Funding available for Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems (ADCMS)
On May 30th, 2024, FHWA announced the availability of up to $17 million each for FY2024, FY2025 and FY2026 ADCMS grants.
The ADCMS Program was created to promote, implement, deploy, demonstrate, showcase, support, and document the application of ADCMS, practices, performance, and benefits. FHWA is awarding up to $17 million in ADCMS Program funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and up to $17 million each for FYs 2025, and 2026 in future announcements. FY 2024 funds applications must be received through Grants.gov by July 30, 2024, at 8:59 pm PT. Applicants for this grant are limited to State DOTs, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Visit the ADCMS website to find more information on this NOFO and the ADCMS Program. For questions, contact Julie Zirlin, Program Coordinator, Every Day Counts
Innovation of the Month:
Enhancing Performance with Internally Cured Concrete
Before trying new technologies, bridge owners and engineers need information about the current state of practice and in-service data before making decisions to proceed to implementation. The Enhancing Performance with Internally Cured Concrete (EPIC2) initiative created a curated database of EPIC2 bridge decks, now available on InfoBridge. Users can browse through all 110 of the selected bridges, including National Bridge Inventory (NBI) and National Bridge Element (NBE) data.
The database allows owners, researchers, and the public to track the implementation and impact of internally cured concrete on the condition of bridge decks. It also provides stakeholders the ability to monitor the nationwide adoption of the new technology.
To learn more, visit the EPIC2 team’s webpage. To stay informed subscribe to EPIC2 email updates. For questions email Tim Barrett, FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, or Mike Praul, FHWA Office of Infrastructure.
Access EPIC2 data in the InfoBridge portal by clicking on data, then “special projects” in the left navigational column.
Iowa Uses Virtual Public Involvement to Meet NEPA Requirements
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an agency to look at the environmental consequences of a proposed action before implementing it, requires public hearings to inform the public about the planned action, and give an opportunity for feedback and questions. FHWA released a Virtual Public Involvement Practices in NEPA report summarizing eight case studies, including the state of Iowa, that explored potential approaches to virtual public involvement (VPI) in the NEPA process.
The Black Hawk Bridge project replaced a bridge built in 1931 and a feasibility study identified three potential alternatives for the replacement. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) hosted a live, virtual public hearing for the project and an “at your own pace” public hearing that was available to the public for approximately two weeks. The DOT used its proprietary Public Involvement Management Application (PIMA) to register attendees and track public involvement activities, public meeting and hearing participants, and comments on the project.
The event was attended by over 100 participants and generated more public comments, that were directly related to the project, than traditional meetings. Learn more about the meetings, benefits, challenges, and lessons learned in the specific case study.
To learn more about VPI, please contact Mack Frost, FHWA Office of Planning, Stewardship & Oversight, or Robert Washington, FHWA Office of Project Development & Environmental Review.