Briefs

In Ohio the legislature has approved Governor Kasich's request for $2.6m for consultant studies of how to get best value out of the Ohio Turnpike - whether to sell, concession, P3 or privatize it, and how.

And up in Maine the Governor Paul LePage and senator Doug Thomas are pushing studies of the old idea of a 230 mile east-west tollroad Calais to Coburn Gore. That's seen as a project for investors.

It could provide a shortcut for trucks and other vehicles between Nova Scotia and Quebec/Ontario.

Only politicians could be so stupid. They build a beautiful new highway with $2.5 billion.

The Inter County Connector, Maryland State Highway 200, MD200.

It has a design speed of 75mph, but they post it with signs for 55mph!

And 50mph in places. (see below)

Insanity.

Driving at the posted speed limits you're an obstacle on the road.

The Michigan DOT inspired jailings of Ambassador Bridge company officers, Matty Moroun and Dan Stamper recently over the Ambassador Bridge Gateway contract dispute was one of several examples cited of "overciminalization" at a recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC.  Most of the Republican candidates for president attended as did a bunch of governors, congressional leaders, activists and lobbyists.

- Fluor, American Bridge, Granite and Traylor

- Bechtel and Tutor Perini

- Dragados, Flatiron, Samsung, E&C, Yonkers

- Kiewit, Skanska, Weeks Marine

One of five groups responding to the request for qualification flunked out (DETAIL TO COME)

Little York Maine doesn't only bring down state Turnpike chiefs and force the state toller to think seriously about highway speed cashless tolling.

It also makes great jams.

This we discovered at a little shop two blocks away from where we live and work here in a little northern Maryland town between Washington DC and Harrisburg PA.  

Whitney Houston, America's greatest 20th century singer is gone.

What a magnificent voice!

What a huge talent!

What a woman!

"One Moment in Time" is our favorite of many great songs.

She had her moment in time, and what a great one.

She did live to "be the very best."

She did seize her moment in time.

And how she made it shine.

- editor

Texas DOT has reorganized putting project development and procurement under one chief - a Chief Planning & Project Officer. Project development covers all the consultation and public outreach, permitting and planning, plus procurement, whether that involves a toll concession, or design-built, or more convention design, bid, build.

Sounds like a good confab.

They speak a different language apparently, American football fans, one that has me giving up trying to read. It's not english, it's footballish.

Take the Wall Street Journal piece today headlined "Super-Bowl Jetsetters Face Tarmac Gridlock." (Feb 4-5 pA2)

First up they apparently date or number the Superbowl match with funny Latin numerals XLVI.

Everyone else has given up that archaic, mind boggling numbering system, but apparently it lives on footballish. We get caught up wondering what the hell number XLVI is in english numerals.

We've set up a new email:

peterdsamuel@gmail.com

Please use this for urgent messages.

We're still hoping to get editor@tollroadsnews.com and petersamuel@mac.com working again soon.

Competition and options be praised!

- editor

TOLLROADSnews 2012-02-01 18:30