Industry News

VDOT Receives 3 Proposals for Rte 460 Corridor Improvements

September 09, 2010

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) received three conceptual proposals in response to its solicitation under the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA) for private firms to develop and operate a new U.S. Route 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk.

Last May, VDOT Commissioner Gregory A. Whirley terminated the previous procurement process that started in 2006, due to changes in market conditions. VDOT then issued a new solicitation for proposals seeking private partners with new ideas and innovative financing methods to move the project forward.

The U.S. Route 460 project remains a high priority for the Commonwealth due to its importance as an emergency and hurricane evacuation route, for strategic military connectivity, safety of the traveling public and the movement of freight in and out of the Hampton Roads ports.

VDOT received U.S. Route 460 proposals by the required September 7, 2010, submittal date from:

Cintra Infraestructuras S.A.U.,  including:

  • Cintra Infraestructuras S.A.
  • Ferrovial Agroman, S.A.
  • Janssen & Spaans Engineering, Inc.
  • A. Morton Thomas and Associates, Inc.
  • American Infrastructure


460 Partners, Inc., including:

  • Moreland Property Group, Inc.
  • Infrastructure Capital Partners, LLC
  • CGA Capital
  • Bank of America
  • Lane Construction Corporation
  • Skanska USA Civil Southeast, Inc.
  • AECOM
  • Transfield Services North America


Multimodal Solutions LLC, including:

  • Edgemoor Real Estate Services, LLC
  • Clark Construction Group, LLC
  • Shirley Contracting Company, LLC
  • Autostrade S.p.A.
  • Keiwit Construction, Inc.
  • The Louis Berger Group
  • Barclays Capital

The new 55-mile, four-lane divided highway would be developed south of the existing road from Interstate 295 in Prince George County to Route 58 in Suffolk.

VDOT has up to 30 days to conduct a quality control evaluation of the proposals to ensure that each meets the requirements of the Solicitations for Proposals, PPTA guidelines and related legislation. Those proposals that meet the quality control criteria will move to the next step of the procurement process which is a review by an independent review panel. This review process will include significant public participation activities.

For more information on the PPTA process and guidelines, and to read the proposals once they are posted, visit http://route460ppta.org/. Proposals accepted by VDOT will be posted on this site within 10 working days.

Governor Recommends Investing in Transportation Infrastructure Bank

September 09, 2010

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Bob McDonnell’s staff recommended depositing the $500 million it estimates will be generated from the privatization of ABC stores in a new Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (VTIB) that would make loans and grants to localities, transportation authorities, transit agencies and private entities for projects that reduce congestion and promote economic development.

Specifics include:

  • VTIB would be capitalized solely with state funds. Funding would not be subject to federal regulation, which means lower costs and faster project delivery.
  • VTIB could make direct low-interest loans to localities, governmental entities and authorities, railroads, transit companies, and private sector companies.
  • Funds from the VTIB could be used for construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, public transit, passenger and freight rail and ports.
  • VTIB financing would generate considerable savings over traditional private activity bonds.
  • The VTIB resources would be supplemented by periodic year-end General Funds, General Assembly appropriations and “possible dedicated revenue streams.“
  • Counties, cities, and towns could apply for grants from the VTIB.

This proposal was presented to the Simplification and Operations Committee of the Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring, which is expected to review, revise and forward it to the full Reform Commission.

Click here  to see Transportation Secretary Connaughton’s presentation about the VTIB made at Committee meeting. 

As part of today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell stated, “ABC privatization is one part of the overall solution to our transportation challenges. I look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats to privatize ABC, make government more efficient and improve our transportation system.“

I-66 Pavement Rehabilitation Design-Build RFP Posted

September 08, 2010

VDOT has posted an RFP for the I-66 Pavement Rehabilitation Project located in Fairfax County.  The project includes providing full-depth patching of the existing concrete pavement on approximately 6.5 miles of I-66 and selected interchange ramps, and overlaying the pavement with asphalt.  The deadline for submitting the Proposal is October 27, 2010 at 4 p.m.  A pre-proposal meeting will be held September 15, 2010, at the Northern Virginia District Office of the Virginia Department of Transportation, 14685 Avion Parkway, Chantilly, Va. 20151, beginning at 10 a.m. (prevailing local time) in the Fairfax Conference Room.

Details and the RFP are available on VDOT’s web site at http://www.virginiadot.org/business/request-for-proposals.asp

Governor Releases Results of Research Council Audit

August 24, 2010

Governor Bob McDonnell recently received the results of an independent review of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Research Council. The audit was one of four performance audits of Virginia’s transportation programs called for by the Governor and approved by the 2010 General Assembly. Delegate Joe May (R-Loudoun), who serves as Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, championed the effort in the General Assembly. Results of the audit, released to Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton, include six major recommendations to improve the value of Virginia’s transportation research program. 

Speaking about the results of the audit, Governor McDonnell remarked, “The review identified opportunities and recommendations to transform the Research Council into a champion for innovation to benefit all who use Virginia roads, rail, and transit. We now intend for this program to identify, research, test and implement creative solutions that will fuel Virginia’s multi-modal transportation program and make it the best state transportation research organization in the country. Audits such as this one are part of this Administration’s comprehensive efforts to improve transportation in the Commonwealth. A modern, integrated and cost-efficient transportation system is crucial to job creation and economic growth in the years ahead. ”

The Federal Highway Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center and B.T. Harder Inc. of Philadelphia conducted the independent evaluation of the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC).  Virginia annually spends between $10 million to $13 million on research.

The review found that while Virginia’s current business model for research is sound, comprehensive implementation and utilization of research results was lagging.  The audit recommends that Virginia improve performance by instituting a more formal and rigorous implementation process as well as early involvement of personnel from the field. Steps for accomplishing this include developing internal reporting and management processes and utilizing field personnel to support research efforts. It also recommends setting up pilot programs to test research results and, upon successful completion of a pilot, bringing into practice these innovations, process changes, new specifications and other changes.

The research program will also give greater focus on innovative strategies to reduce congestion and to maximize the utilization of current transportation infrastructure, such as active traffic management, better designs, and more through planning.  In addition, it is intended to broaden the current research program to be multi-modal instead of focusing primarily on highway construction and infrastructure. In recognition of this, it is proposed to rename the “Virginia Transportation Research Council” to the “Virginia Transportation Innovation Center. “

“The new name is intended to reflect the broader mission of the program and the role we need it to play,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton said. “Virginia is facing multifaceted and complex transportation challenges that we need innovative ideas and practices to overcome.  The Virginia Transportation Innovation Center will be at the forefront of reinvigorating a culture of innovation within VDOT and Virginia’s other transportation agencies.”

The Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) was created in 1948 as a partnership between VDOT and the University of Virginia. VTRC now also works closely with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and other areas in Virginia Tech. The report recommends that the new Virginia Transportation Innovation Center (VTIC) maximize the value of its research capabilities through stronger partnerships with universities in Virginia and leveraging current funding opportunities. The report says that such partnerships “increase capacity while providing VDOT with a reliable source of highly qualified internal technical support.”  Consequently, the VTIC will increase outreach with other state universities to develop “niche expertise areas” and cooperative agreements for grant funding for transportation research in such areas as policy, transit, rail and environmental. This will create opportunities for VTIC to expand its support for all agencies of the Transportation Secretariat.

Two other areas for improvement call for enhancements in the VTIC’s advisory committee process, which taps the expertise of experts from government, academia and the private sector to develop proposals for new research.

The effort to implement the audits results will begin immediately.  The full report is available online at http://www.governor.virginia.gov/tempContent/Memo_VTRC_Evaluation.pdf

VDOT to Devote $200 Million to Pavement Program

August 16, 2010

In FY 2011 VDOT will devote a minimum of $200 million contract value annually to the pavement schedule program. The paving season will generally run from April 1st to December 1st (in accordance with existing specifications).  Contract language will include a provision that will limit contract payments for work completed in April to June to 25% of the contract dollar value, regardless of the amount of work executed.  Any outstanding or unpaid balance for worked completed on a contract will be paid in the first estimate period after July 1st.  More details are attached.

VDOT Issuss Addendum #1 for Meadowville Interchange

August 04, 2010

VDOT has posted addendum #1 on their website for the I-295/Meadowville Interchange Design Build proposal.  Details can be downloaded from VDOT’s website at http://www.virginiadot.org/business/request-for-proposals.asp

VDOT to Put $900M of Work on the Street by Year End

July 23, 2010

At the VTCA Annual Meeting last week, VDOT Chief Engineer Mal Kerley announced that between July 19, 2010 and December 31, 2010, VDOT will put nearly $900 million worth of work out to advertisement. The goal is to spend down some of VDOT’s cash balances and have work under contract for the 2011 construction season. There are over 250 construction, maintenance and locally administered projects that have been scheduled for advertisement by year end with a value of $878.5 million. You can find a breakdown, by district, value of projects along with a list of projects here.

This list will be updated periodically, and we will provide our members with these updates.

I-295/Meadowville Road Interchange RFP Posted

July 02, 2010

VDOT has posted an RFP for the I-295/Meadowville Road Interchange project in located in Chesterfield County.  The proposal requests design, environmental permitting, utility relocation, construction, quality assurance/quality control and overall project management.  The project includes the first phase of construction for a new interchange on Interstate 295 (I-295) at Route 618 (Meadowville Road) and will provide access to the Meadowville Technology Park.  The deadline for submitting the Letter of Submittal/Price Proposal is August 13, 2010 at 4 p.m.  A pre-proposal meeting will be held July 15, 2010, at the Richmond District Office of the Virginia Department of Transportation, 2430 Pine Forest Drive Colonial Heights, VA 23834, in the Auditorium beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Details and the RFP are available on VDOT’s website at http://www.virginiadot.org/business/request-for-proposals.asp

VDOT Advances Procurement for 460 Corridor Improvements

May 06, 2010

Seeking new innovative financing methods, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced today it will solicit new proposals for the U.S. Route 460 Corridor Improvements, a Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA) project to build a new Route 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk. 

VDOT’s Acting Commissioner Gregory A. Whirley terminated the current procurement process that started in 2006 and is issuing a new solicitation for proposals (SFP).

Acting Commissioner Whirley stated that, “VDOT appreciates the efforts of our private-sector partners on the project, however, market conditions have changed dramatically since the original SFP was issued in 2006.  Consequently, it is in the best interest of the Commonwealth to terminate the current procurement.”

The U.S. Route 460 project remains a high priority for the Commonwealth due to its importance as an emergency and hurricane evacuation route, for strategic military connectivity, safety of the traveling public and the movement of freight in and out of the Hampton Roads ports.

Regarding the issuance of the new solicitation for proposal, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton said, “This roadway is essential to Hampton Roads.  It will increase mobility and support emergency planning and military preparedness.  We seek private partners with new ideas and innovative financing methods to move the project forward.”

For more information on Route 460 and the Public-Private Transportation Act process, visit www.route460ppta.org.