The condition of our national transportation funding is in complete disarray, the problem isn’t limited to Pennsylvania, and it isn’t going away. Although I empathize with Pennsylvania Turnpike officials who are frustrated in obtaining private equity interest in building their new road while dozens clamor for the chance to take over what they’ve already built, it is indicative of the fact that public-private partnerships will never replace what first built our system.
I am in no way against PPPs, but I do take issue with using their existence as a shield to avoid the tough discussion about how or if we are going to fully fund our highway trust fund. The fact is, regardless of what the average price of gas is at the time, there is no convenient time to discuss raising the gas tax. It’s no more convenient now than when gas was $1.50 per gallon, on average. It will never be popular to raise user fees on something that too many already take for granted, and it certainly will never be viewed as a novel solution to our funding crisis, despite its elegant simplicity.
Joseph W. Nagle
President
Schuylkill Products Inc.
Cressona, Pa.
Contract Docs on the Way
In the article “Model Contracts To Aid E-Building” and the editorial “Digital Data Sharing Needs Contracts that Build Trust,” ENR calls for a “consensus” among contract-writing groups. This is precisely what the industry desperately needs. Working collaboratively, owner, contractor, subcontractor, design professional and surety associations have actually achieved a new consensus standard that will transform the industry when these contract documents are jointly published later this year under the name ConsensusDOCS.
The new consensus documents will include an Electronic Communications Protocol that will comprehensively address electronic communications and facilitate the use of BIM. In addition, a tri-party collaborative agreement will raise project integration to a new level.
Rather than a single-party perspective, these contracts have included all industry participants in the drafting process, focusing on the project’s best interests every step of the way as opposed to negotiating partisan contract terms.
Stephen Rohrbach, CPC
President
American Subcontractors Association Inc.
Outlook 2012 Executive Conference
Get a first-hand view of industry trends and the economic forecast that will affect the construction industry in 2012. This 73rd Annual Outlook Conference will give you the vital information you need to plan for business success in the year 2012 and beyond.
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