How long will it be before we have to pay to leave our driveway? I have asked myself that question many times. Here in the Puget Sound area, there are tolls on several highly traveled bridges and there will be a toll on an anticipated tunnel project that is currently underway.

We all know that our national infrastructure of roads,bridges and dams is in urgent need of upgrading. That could mean a lot of jobs. I received a study on this topic recently and wanted to be sure and share it with you.

Gas Tax, Road Tolls Imperative to U.S. Road, Tunnel & Bridge Markets,
according to SBI Energy

On December 17,2012 in Rockville (MD),results of a study by SBI Energy was released to the public. Below are the details of the report.

There is a growing disconnect on both the federal and state levels between the amount of money being generated from fees paid by users of the U.S. road system and the amount of money required to maintain and expand that system. High gas prices exacerbate the problem, as well as pressure to move towards more fuel-efficient cars and alternative energy vehicles, creating a reduction in fuel use that has the effect of also reducing the amount of gas tax revenue.

The pay-as-you-go system has failed

“While the pay-as-you-go system has worked reasonably well for decades, it is no longer able to pay for all of the roadway construction required to maintain the U.S. road network at its current performance level,” according to Norman Deschamps, SBI Energy analyst and author of The U.S. Road, Bridge and Tunnel Construction Market.

The Federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is the primary vehicle through which the federal government collects and transfers money to the states to fund roadway construction. The HTF operates as a pay-as-you-go system, largely funded through taxes on gas and diesel fuel, with the collected funds then transferred to the states through multi-year transportation bills.

The pay-as-you-go system has failed at the federal level, too

“Almost half of the states have less than 60% of their transportation spending come from user-based taxes and fees. The pay-as-you-go system is failing at the federal level as well,” Deschamps continues. “Since 2008, the federal government has had to inject $32.1 billion dollars to maintain solvency of the HTF, and the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), passed midyear 2012, transfers an additional $18.8 billion into the HTF through FY2013 and FY (fiscal year)2014. Unfortunately, MAP-21 also does not address the growing discrepancy between the amount of money collected through user-based fees by the HTF, and how much money state and local governments are spending to maintain and improve the nation’s roadway infrastructure.”

Capital spending for roadways has averaged a 6% per 10-year CAGR since 1950. However, a new forecast anticipates the CAGR of spending during the next decade to be just 4.8% between 2013 and 2022. According to The U.S. Road, Bridge and Tunnel Construction Market, a new study from energy market research publisher SBI Energy, as long as both state and federal governments refuse to increase their respective gas taxes or implement other user-based funding schemes, long-term market prospects remain bleak.

Unfortunately for the road, bridge and tunnel construction market, the availability of public funding has been, and continues to be, a serious constraint on the market. This lack of funding shows in the growing discrepancy between fees collected for the HTF, and the amount of money needed to maintain those same assets, and in growing debts at all levels of government.

The U.S. Road, Bridge and Tunnel Construction Market by SBI Energy, provides key insight into current and future construction trends for the nation’s road infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on bridge and tunnel construction segments and an analysis of key states. The analysis includes definitions, current product offerings and market detail on the following segments: Road construction, including lane widening, resurfacing and rehabilitation Bridge construction and rehabilitation, as well as, tunnel and wall construction.

The report by SBI, also studies the key elements driving new road construction, analyzing local, state and federal financing strategies that provide construction funding in the U.S., and the impact these projects have on employment.

SBI Energy, is a division of MarketResearch.com. They publish research reports in the industrial, energy, building/construction, and automotive/transportation markets. SBI Energy, also offers a full range of custom research services. To learn more, visit www.sbireports.com

Please feel free to comment about your thoughts on this topic or share on your favorite social media sites.

For the earth-lover in your life (even though earth-lover should apply to everyone who wants to continue living here), no matter what the occasion is, going green with your giving makes you automatically cooler than the people who give boring, banal, regular gifts. No matter who you’re in the market to gift there are some green goods for them. Birthdays, anniversaries and holidays . . . there’s only so many pairs of socks you can give . . it’s time to mix it up a bit.   

For Nerds

One of the coolest, and actually affordable, gift ideas we have come across in a long time is the Instean LED light bulb. It sounds boring, but it’s the first light bulb on the market that has ever been network connected, and your beloved nerd probably doesn’t have it yet. It’s only $30, and it’s controlled by a remote control on your smart phone that can be controlled from anywhere. This device can be hooked up to a single bulb, or connected to groups of bulbs. . . it’s the most high-tech way to achieve ambient lighting (or spook someone into thinking your place is haunted).

For Food Lovers

George Washington Carver said live at home, but unfortunately most of us aren’t even close to being self-sustainable. Enter Urban Farmer’s Mushroom growing kit. For only $25, this little beauty can hang on a wall or be set on a surface, and it looks really cool. True foodies should appreciate a good mushroom, and a good mushroom is hard to find. The best part of this set-up is that it yields at least two pounds of mushrooms in less than 10 days, and the soil is made from recycled coffee grounds.

For Fashionable Femmes

Noted environmentalist Stephen Dent recommends that we all do our best to wear clothing made out of natural fibers like cotton or wool, and wear recycled clothing whenever possible. For the fashionista this may sound like a really boring fashion sentence, but it doesn’t have to be. Sites like Fairtribe.com feature a host of gorgeous garments fit for an earth-friendly queen. You can find stunning threads like the Lotus Tunic Dress for only $55, or the Go With Everything reversible tulip skirt for only $63 . . . the possibilities are endless, and green clothes make your body and your conscience look and feel good.

For Animal Enthusiasts

People who love animals are the best people. Anyone who loves animals knows this fact to be true. For these people there’s BirdProject Soap. A whopping half of the proceeds go toward benefiting the Gulf Restoration Network and International Bird Rescue. The soap is lovingly made from biodiesel glycerin, Fair Trade olive oil, and local ingredients from New Orleans. After the soap is used, it reveals a small white porcelain bird hiding underneath. The artists want their delicate soap to be a potent symbol of restoration and recovery” from the oil spill. For $24, this heartfelt gift gets our vote.

The trend for several years, has grown toward hardwood floors, in many houses. Perhaps, it is because dust, allergens, pet odors and dander can’t accumulate and cause great discomfort for many allergy suffers.

In my home, I have areas of hardwood and carpet.  There is nothing like sinking your toes into nice, soft plush carpet.  However, that nice carpet does require maintenance and regular (or seasonal) cleaning.

In most cases, time is a factor as to whether to do it yourself or hire a professional rug cleaner to come in an do the job. The later is most often the preferred method, but what about the cost and those harsh chemicals?  Oh, and often times the carpet takes days to dry, and then there could be the danger of mold and other allergen issues.

There is a rug cleaner that has all the remedies that are mentioned here and at a very affordable price.

The folks at Green Choice Carpet Cleaning use only Green Cleaning Materials,while offering you a convenient service, and they do it all at a great price.

If you need a fast, reliable, and a safe green carpet cleaning service, they can even come out the same day.  They offer these other outstanding services as well.
Carpet Cleaning and Stain Removal
Area Rug Cleaning- They have their own rug cleaning factory
Rug Repair
Upholstery Cleaning
Leather Cleaning
Mattress Cleaning
Air Duct Cleaning
Water Damage
Green Cleaning
Free Pick-up and Delivery
Fully Insured and Bonded

If bed bugs or mites are a problem where you live, they can clean your mattress thoroughly and get rid of those nasty bed bugs and bed mites using only green cleaners. The end result is  your mattress has no chemical fumes or odors that can cause allergic reactions.

Green Choice Carpet Cleaning is a family operated company. They know all too well the dangers of conventional carpet cleaning products. They didn’t want their family exposed to these chemicals, and they don’t want your family exposed to them either. For this reason, they utilize only natural organic cleaning products. In fact, OSHA has rated all of their products with the safest rating. You can rest assured that you are selecting the greenest way to clean your living space, with Green Choice Carpet Cleaners.

They also can perform rug repair and rug restoration if your carpets and area rugs are damaged or worn. Removing the most stubborn stains that may have been a problem in your carpet for years, is also a specialty.

Unlike many cleaning services, Green Choice never out sources or deals with contractors.  Every technician at Green Choice,  is a hired employee that has been trained, tested, certified and licensed to ensure you have a pleasurable, quality  experience. This is how they are able to provide state-of-the-art green cleaning techniques at a fraction of the cost.

So, give these rug cleaners a call today for a carpet cleaning estimate or any of their other green cleaning services.They offer the Highest Quality Control in the Industry, so you are in good hands with the folk ant Green Choice.