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5 Things I Learned Taking Amtrak Down the East Coast 

13 Jun 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Blog Posts

The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is an electrified railroad line that is the busiest passenger rail in the United States. A ride on an Amtrak train from Boston to Washington D.C. covers almost 440 miles and makes stops in New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. This transportation network supports the Northeast…

Costs, Carbon, and Cargo, Powering Shipping into the Future

31 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The international shipping industry facilitates the movement of millions of products between continents in a matter of weeks. Massive container ships today are so large that they require their own unit (measured in twenty-foot equivalent units or TEUs), and with their significant freight capacity, they form the backbone of the…

It’s Time for Nationwide Adoption of Electronic White-Lining

24 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Looking ahead to the year 2030, we hope to see technology integrated into virtually every activity we do. For damage prevention, this is not merely aspirational, it is a necessity. Fortunately, industry groups have already cast this vision, stating in the latest Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Technology Report that the…

New Strides in Public Transit with Hudson Tunnel Project

19 May 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Blog Posts

With gas prices on the rise and the population growth rapidly increasing every year, major cities are having to prioritize innovations in public transportation. One historic project that recently received a go-ahead will soon take travelers underneath the Hudson River– the Hudson Tunnel Project. On March 28, the U.S. Department…

Safer Digging Part 5: Investigating A Damage

17 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Up to this point, we have explored a range of benefits that accrue from the use of technology in the damage prevention process. Not only is technology vital to avoiding damage, but it makes the process more efficient, reduces environmental hazards, enables cost savings, and more. One final benefit emerges…

Safer Digging Part 4: Saving Time Saving Money

12 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

There is a clear connection between effective damage prevention and cost saving – when you avoid a damage, you avoid all of the direct and indirect costs that come from it. But the use of innovative technology in the damage prevention process can also help stakeholders in saving time and…

Safer Digging Part 3: Keep it in Park

10 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

This blog series is laser-focused on innovative technology that can improve the damage prevention process. While this particular series only discusses one technology – Electronic white-lining (EWL)– we have covered its manifold benefits, including public safety, damage reduction, and communications value. Electronic white-lining has multiple advantages, but here we focus…

Safer Digging Part 2: Click Don’t Call

05 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

In March, Aii ran its original damage prevention campaign Modern Roots March to help raise America’s infrastructure IQ about the critical roots of modern life below our feet. In April, Aii joined national groups, agencies, and nonprofits to elevate National Safe Digging Month to improve excavation safety. Now as we enter…

Safer Digging Part 1: Before the Shovel

03 May 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The first step for safer digging happens long before the shovel hits the ground. Damage prevention relies on communication and collaboration between parties through One-Call centers. The notice of proposed excavation is the first step in this process, but it is more than just making a call. Error and miscommunication…

Safe Digging Month Wraps, But Safe Digging Continues

27 Apr 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Blog Posts

April is recognized across the U.S. as National Safe Digging Month. As the April showers wind down and the May flowers sprout up, it is important to keep in mind the lessons learned from National Safe Digging Month. While spring can be a great time for gardening and backyard projects,…

Domestic Uranium Supply Needed As Supply Chain Problems Persist

21 Apr 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Blog Posts

The current energy crisis has seen gasoline prices rise to all-time highs across the country. Around the world, many countries’ ability to meet their energy needs through imports has also been called into question as markets respond to Russia’s war in Ukraine and environmental regulations and policy priorities limiting exploration,…

Think Tank Calls for Reexamination of Federal Damage Prevention Approach

20 Apr 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Press Releases

Washington, D.C, April 20, 2022 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) on Wednesday released its newest report, Excavation Damage to Underground Infrastructure: A Look at the Federal Damage Prevention Approach. The report looks at the federal role in limiting and preventing excavation damage and encourages Congress and federal…

Self-Driving into the Future

19 Apr 2022, Posted by John Cassibry in All Posts, Blog Posts

While some recent conversations about transportation in the U.S. are relatively simple – like the supply and demand for oil – others are more nuanced and complex. America is a car-dependent country, with more than 90% of households estimated to have access to a vehicle. But with the changing climate…

Benjamin Dierker Speaks at Law Review Symposium

14 Apr 2022, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

This month, Aii Director of Public Policy Benjamin Dierker spoke at the 2022 Indiana Law Review Symposium: “Transportation Infrastructure Law and Policy: The Road Forward.” The event, featured attorneys and researchers from a range of public policy spheres that intersect with transportation infrastructure. Joining a panel titled “The Future of…