January 7, 2014 The Coming Pothole Crisis • The Coming Pothole Crisis and Asphalt and Asphalt Anxiety Anxiety • LICA Members Brave Blizzard Conditions The Long Island Contractors’ Association (LICA) is warning that if the recent to Assist in Storm Recovery freeze/thaw/freeze cycle of winter weather continues at its current pace the amount of asphalt required to fix potholes that are already exploding along the region’s roads will • Introducing Huntington’s New Highway Superintendent be nothing less than historic. • Polly Trottenberg Appointed NYC LICA Executive Director Marc Herbst stated, “During a traditional season Long Transportation Commissioner Island uses approximately 5,000 tons of asphalt to repair its roads after a winter • Construction Industry Leaders Convene pounding. We are already well past the point of calling this winter `traditional’ and during ABLI ‘s “Back to Business” the enormous temperature swings we have experienced are already creating a literal Gathering explosion of potholes. We can project the need for 8,000 tons of asphalt to meet the • ARTBA 4th Quarter Contractors Survey needs of municipalities faced with some kind of damage along virtually every street and it may go to 10,000 tons by the end of the season.” • Last Chance to Register for LICA’s 2014 Safety Seminar Herbst notes that the ruinous thaw and freeze allows for a constant runoff of water into • GCA Hosts Conference on Future of NY’s the smallest cracks in the street only to have it expand when the temperature drops Infrastructure below freezing. “It is Mother Nature’s version of a jackhammer and we have many weeks to go before this cycle comes to an end.” • CFMA Hosts 6th Annual Dinner Gala with (Continued on next page) Proceeds to Benefit CFK LICA board member James 150 Motor Parkway Haney of Rason Asphalt checks out the stealth potholes that are Suite 307 the next winter woe. Hauppauge, NY 11788-5145 Tel: 631.231.LICA • Fax: 631.231.4291 • www.licanys.org • [email protected] January 7, 2014 2 Herbst said asphalt plants will need to work on a seven-day-a-week basis to meet the need of a region whose roads are cratering. “There is much less plant capacity than there was several years ago because the amount of infrastructure projects have dropped dramatically. Now, with a pending pothole crisis, there will be a priority rush on product and not every municipality is going to have its order fulfilled. Some stretches of road are simply going to have to wait.” Potholes create an average of $600 worth of repairs for drivers according to published reports while some have been so destructive they have caused drivers traveling at high speeds to lose control of their vehicles. LICA Members Brave Blizzard Conditions to Assist in Storm Recovery LICA members were once again on the frontlines of storm recovery last week, providing prompt and effective response to a blizzard that dumped up to a foot of snow in some places on Long Island and forced the closure of major roadways such as the Long Island Expressway (LIE). “Men and women of LICA’s heavy construction industry were out in a storm that shut down major roads, moving tons of snow from streets and parking areas to assist municipalities in Nassau and Suffolk in getting residents safely back to work,” said LICA’s Executive Director Marc Herbst. Crews were out early to get ahead of the storm by treating roads with sand and salt before the storm hit in an effort to keep roads clear for the evening commute. LICA members played a major role in providing manpower and payloaders and assisting State and local municipalities, as well as area schools, hospitals and shopping malls. Prior to high winds and white-out conditions, Suffolk County Public Works Commissioner Gilbert Anderson told Newsday that the County had already distributed more than 16,000 tons of salt to nine locations and had started to use its supply to stay on top of the weather and road conditions, minimizing the chance of icing. These steps were extremely necessary as many areas in Suffolk were left with about a foot of snow by Friday afternoon. Anderson advised that the County used sand later to help with traction in the hopes that drivers would “slow down and at least know they’re not going to be able to drive at 55 mph.” Nassau County reported that 88 plows and spreaders were deployed on County roads. The County had 12,000 tons of salt on hand early Thursday before the storm hit. LICA reminded Newsday and WINS1010 Radio that sweeping cuts in public infrastructure funding have harmed the heavy construction industry, and many of the private assets that government has come to depend upon during times of crisis are no longer available. January 7, 2014 3 Introducing Huntington’s New Highway Superintendent Peter Gunther formally took over as the Town of Huntington’s Highway Superintendent on January 1st, replacing 25-year incumbent William Naughton in the position. Since his win last November, Gunther has made it clear that his first orders of business will be to get to know his staff, update the emergency response plan for snowplowing and improve communications within the department. Gunther, a retired New York City firefighter, has a long history of community involvement and has served as a volunteer firefighter for both the Northport and Centerport Fire Departments. He currently serves as fire commissioner of the Centerport Fire District. The Highway Department is responsible for the maintenance, rehabilitation and drainage of all Huntington Town highways. During his predecessor’s tenure, this had been accomplished through the annual Roadway Rehabilitation Program, ongoing maintenance and pothole repair, snow and ice removal and control, drainage and flood control, and road sweeping. The Superintendent’s jurisdiction includes approximately 800 miles of roads, 465 recharge basins, 20,000 catch basins, 2,000 leaching pools and 500 miles of pipe. In addition, the Highway Office maintains a Highway Hotline (631-499-0444) with dedicated dispatchers for resident concerns, and provides the following services: Adopt-A-Highway Program; drainage construction; drainage control; pothole repair; road rehabilitation program; leaf bag program; grass cutting of Town rights-of-way; tree planting, removal, and improvements; road opening permits and banner permits, including block parties and parades. Polly Trottenberg Appointed NYC Transportation Commissioner Newly-elected New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Under Secretary for Policy Polly Trottenberg as the new Commissioner of the New York City Transportation Department (NYCDOT), a move that has been applauded by transportation professionals as a “solid win-win” for the region. “We are delighted with Mayor de Blasio’s choice. LICA believes that Polly Trottenberg’s long history with New York transportation issues has given her the experience and expertise required to fill this role,” said Herbst, LICA’s executive director. Prior to her appointment as Under Secretary, for three years Ms. Trottenberg served as Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. During that time she focused on surface transportation reauthorization, livability, high-speed rail and freight policy development. (Continued on next page) January 7, 2014 4 She was previously the Executive Director of Building America’s Future, a non-profit organization created by former Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to promote infrastructure investment. Ms. Trottenberg also worked as a staffer in the United States Senate for 12 years, most recently as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for California Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Ms. Trottenberg also served as Legislative Director for New York Senator Charles Schumer and as Legislative Assistant to former New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. She has worked extensively on transportation, public works, energy and environmental issues during her congressional career. Before starting her career on Capitol Hill, Ms. Trottenberg worked at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Massachusetts State Senate and the Massachusetts Port Authority. Construction Industry Leaders Convene During ABLI’s “Back to Business” Gathering The annual “Back to Business” reception hosted by the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) gave business and labor leaders a chance to toast each other in recognition of their efforts to see the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) achieve the first project labor agreement in the history of President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Richard O’Kane, James J. Pratt, III of Pratt Brothers, Inc., Joe Calderone of the the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors’ that will aid the LIRR Second Track Program Association (LICA) Marc Herbst celebrate this landmark agreement. between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma. Construction of a double track in this area will increase service reliability, spur economic growth and new investment, and create hundreds of construction jobs along the Main Line of the railroad. When all phases are completed it will also improve LIRR service to Long Island MacArthur Airport. According to the MTA’s website, ridership on the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma Branch has doubled over the last 25 years. Adding a second track along the 18-mile stretch between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale will strengthen the economy, build job growth and provide the operational flexibility needed in the event of a train service disruption. Currently, if a train becomes disabled, all other trains in both directions have no way around the problem. January 7, 2014 5 ARTBA 4th Quarter Contractors Survey The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), our national affiliate, is now conducting its 4th Quarter 2013 Industry Conditions Survey and would appreciate your participation.