Infrastructure
The Skanska-Stacy Witbeck joint venture has been awarded the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project contract by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, with a total contract value of $1.9 billion, of which Skanska's share is $957 million. The project includes a 6.7-mile at-grade light rail line, a 26-acre maintenance facility, and 11 new stations, with completion expected in December 2031.
Bank of America announced on Wednesday that it will provide $250 billion for financing key infrastructure projects, covering digital, energy, and core infrastructure sectors, aiming to strengthen U.S. competitiveness, promote employment, and energy security. The plan aligns with the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, with funds to be deployed by July 4, 2027.
Teresa Maxwell, DBE Compliance Officer for Skanska Civil Engineering Western Region, stated that small business outreach has become more efficient due to technological advancements, but communication and matching challenges remain in large projects. She believes that although federal DBE certification adjustments bring uncertainty, they also present an opportunity for owners to deepen community engagement and optimize project goals.
The Pennsylvania Transportation Commission approved a 12-year, $90 billion infrastructure investment plan on August 6, covering roads, bridges, transit, airports, rail, and active transportation. The plan represents an increase of over 3% from the 2025 version and has been submitted for federal review.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on August 4 that it will invest $870 million in airport infrastructure improvement projects nationwide, issuing 339 grants covering 44 states and two territories. The funding comes from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and is the fifth and final batch of $2.89 billion in grants for fiscal year 2026. Key projects include terminal roadway construction at Los Angeles International Airport and roof reconstruction at Miami International Airport.
美国众议院于9月1日通过一项持续决议，以370票对48票的结果将政府资金维持至12月11日。该法案若获总统签署，将为参众两院委员会争取更多时间处理地面交通立法和资金问题。此前参议院已于8月10日以90票对6票通过类似版本。法案未延续《基础设施投资与就业法》提供的预拨资金，可能导致公共交通投资减少20%、客运铁路减少83%，引发交通倡导组织的担忧。
Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company, an affiliate of Los Angeles water infrastructure company Cadiz, has signed maximum-price construction contracts with W.M. Lyles and Mike Bubalo Construction for the Northern Pipeline conversion project. The project will convert a 220-mile natural gas pipeline into a water conveyance system, with total cost estimated at $403.3 million.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a notice on July 30 stating that malicious cyber actors have targeted programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in water and wastewater treatment systems across at least 7 states, with some attacks causing degraded water treatment operations. Minnesota confirmed that over 30 community water systems were affected by malicious cyber activity, while Michigan reported 9 water systems attacked but operations remained safe. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommend that water agencies disconnect PLCs from the internet, enable password protection, and restrict remote access.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District announced that it has awarded the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project contract to a joint venture formed by FlatironDragados and Sukut, with a contract amount of $1.88 billion and a total project cost of $2.8 billion. Construction is expected to start in 2027 and last seven years, involving the reconstruction of most of the dam structure and spillway, as well as the installation of new drainage pipelines.
A risk management feasibility study released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last week indicates that the federal government may cover 65% of the cost of Boston's nearly $10 billion coastal resilience infrastructure plan. The first draft of the plan covers more than 20 infrastructure projects along Boston's 16-mile coastline and is expected to avert approximately $41 billion in losses. Boston began sponsoring this study in 2022, with the final report expected to be released in 2028.