ALEXANDRIA, VA. (April 1, 2013) — The American Subcontractors Association unveiled a legislative work kit containing model state legislation to address the lack of payment assurances for construction subcontractors on projects financed by public-private partnerships. As P3 projects have become more popular, state legislatures have enacted legislation giving states and localities increasing latitude to negotiate P3 agreements, including more “vertical” construction projects. Unfortunately for subcontractors, often neither the P3 agreements nor existing law provides adequate payment assurances to subcontractors. “Deprived of the clear payment bond protections of the state’s ‘Little Miller Act,’ a subcontractor or supplier working on a P3 project is unlikely to have any payment protections, unless those protections are specified in the authorizing legislation relating to P3s or a provision in the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29, 2013) – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a third round of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) storm-related reimbursements through the FY 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act. The majority of the $1.4 billion announced today goes to the four transit agencies that incurred the greatest expenses while preparing for and recovering from Hurricane Sandy—the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH), New Jersey Transit (NJT), and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). The remainder will be allocated to other transit agencies that incurred eligible storm-related expenses but have not yet received funds. “Shortly after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, President Obama and I promised that we would do everything in our power to bring relief...

MARLTON, N.J., (April 1, 2013) – Hill International announced today that it has received task orders from New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT) to provide project management oversight (PMO) services in connection with the state agency’s Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts. The two-year assignment has an estimated initial value to Hill of approximately $2.3 million. Beginning on October 28, 2012, and continuing through October 30, 2012, Superstorm Sandy struck the State of New Jersey with high winds and torrential rains producing unprecedented severe weather conditions, including enormous storm surges and devastating flooding. Superstorm Sandy caused significant damage to a large portion of NJ TRANSIT’s transportation assets, impacting NJ TRANSIT’s ability to provide public transportation in accordance with its legislated mission. Although the emergent conditions were mitigated,...

Private Residential and Nonresidential Spending Show Monthly and Year-to-Year Growth in Major Categories; Federal Budget Cuts Undermine State and Local Investment and Jeopardize Industry’s Recovery

U.S. Construction Industry Fueling Increased 6.5% Year-Over-Year in February; Up 1.6% versus Previous Month

LAS VEGAS, NEV. –  The American Subcontractors Association announced the results of its 2013 national election on March 22, 2013, and Jack Austhof, Sobie Company Inc., Dutton, Mich., will take office on July 1, 2013, as 2013-14 president of ASA. “In every way that ASA works on behalf of subcontractors, ASA seeks to reach a higher standard,” Austhof said. “As your president, I will work to ensure that ASA continues not just to meet your expectations — but also to exceed them.” Austhof is president and owner of Sobie Company, an interior finishing company. He joined the firm as a carpenter in 1979 and purchased the firm in 1994. The company works on projects ranging from large residential to multi-million dollar commercial projects. Prior to...