InfraTalk America

02/01/2025

, Shanté Hastings has been nominated by Delaware Governor-elect Matt Meyer to be the next Secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). Hastings has been with the state’s transportation agency for 25 years and instrumental to DelDOT's transition to digital project delivery.

InfraTalk America’s Publisher Gregory Nadeau had the opportunity to interview Hastings as part of the platform’s "Women Leading Innovation in Transportation Infrastructure" series in 2022. They discussed Hastings’ incredible career, DelDOT’s leadership in implementing e-Ticketing, and the importance of getting buy-in when mainstreaming new technology.

Read more about the announcement of her nomination and listen to our conversation with her, here: https://bit.ly/3Pp1u5S

Delaware’s Governor-elect Matt Meyer has announced he is nominating current Deputy Secretary and Chief Engineer Shanté Hastings as the next Secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). This news comes on the heels of Nicole Majeski, current Secretary of DelDOT, announcing that...

17/10/2024

Through increasing efficiency, enhancing asset lifecycle management, and improving sustainability, digital construction technology is transforming how we build our nation's transportation infrastructure.

Nick Nadeau and Matthew Valle of Infrastructure Ventures, InfraTalk America's parent company, recently had the opportunity to join Nick Caravella and Christy Hunt on Wired to Build, a podcast by Avicado Construction Technology Services, LLC.

Listen in as they discuss the impact of digital construction, the vital role public-private partnerships play in advancing the use of technology throughout the industry, IIJA's catalytic effect in launching long overdue projects, and the critical push for open, interoperable data standards: https://spoti.fi/3BXzBhQ

22/08/2024

Having buy-in is important to advancing innovation throughout the Federal-Aid Highway Program. Without a helpful push from a DOT, it can be hard for manufacturers and software companies to get the industry to adopt their product.

In this episode of the , Joyce Taylor, chief engineer for MaineDOT, discusses why getting support from a DOT is critical when companies are wanting to get their innovative solution adopted by transportation agencies.

"It is hard to break into a market as somebody who's manufacturing something if you don't have one of the DOTs helping to push, because we are conservative about accepting new materials for a reason," said Taylor. "We want to make sure that they work."

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4fNz3dY

13/08/2024

Implementing innovative policies and technologies that have been proven to reduce accidents on our nation's roadways are vital to helping the industry reach zero deaths. In a recent episode, Secretary of California State Transportation Agency, Toks Omishakin, shared that for the first time in four to five years California had a decrease of nearly 10 percent in roadway fatalities. That's over 400 lives saved.

"It is our hope that the policy decisions we're making and actions we are taking with having these national conversations are having an impact within our state," said Omishakin.

Listen to the full episode here: https://spoti.fi/4dHicb6

12/08/2024

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is getting innovative when it comes to digital. In this "InfraTalk on the Road" episode of our , Russell McMurry shares how GDOT is working to deploy broadband across all of Georgia's interstates. In doing so, they hope to commercialize it so unserved areas in rural Georgia have access to high-speed internet.

McMurry also discusses how learning from other state agencies can help your organization move innovation forward as well as the importance of empowering your staff to seek out leadership opportunities and take risks.

Listen to the full episode here: https://spoti.fi/3SKNDJq

06/08/2024

As the industry works to become more sustainable and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, many organizations, like the National Asphalt Pavement Association, are working to reach net zero by 2050. The implementation of innovative technology is essential to achieving this goal.

In this special episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Matthew Valle, general partner and co-founder of the Transportation Infrastructure Delivery (TIDe) Fund, spoke on a panel at the Trimble Inc. Innovate User Conference, titled “ARTBA Innovation Technology Policy Forum: The Critical Role Contractors are Playing to Advance Digital Project Delivery.”

Listen in as he discusses the innovation being used by DOTs and associations to drive the industry toward net zero: https://spoti.fi/4dxdk8b

24/07/2024

During last fall's American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, InfraTalk Podcast Host and InfraTalk America Publisher Gregory Nadeau spoke with Executive Director of Utah DOT Carlos Braceras as part of our InfraTalk on the Road series.

Executive Director Braceras discussed the importance of using 3-D modeling during the design-build process and the critical role public-private partnerships play in advancing innovation in the transportation infrastructure industry.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3SlJwmM

22/07/2024

Infotech announced last week that it was being acquired by Diversis Capital, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles.

In the press release, the construction and infrastructure software development company stated the acquisition will provide them with the financial resources and expertise to greater expand their digital project delivery solutions. Additionally, they will be able to advance new innovative products that will benefit the thousands of customers who use their wide-ranging software suite.

“We’ve built a great company with great products and services, and Diversis will now help us accelerate our speed to market, enhance our solutions, and increase value to better serve current customers while also reaching a broader audience,” said Tom Rothrock, co-founder of Infotech.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Lx18s6

Acquisition provides Infotech the opportunity to fast-track innovation and offer new products to their customers. Infotech, a construction software development company, announced in a press release late last week that they are being acquired by Diversis Capital, a private equity firm. The acquisitio...

18/07/2024

Earlier this week, Trimble Inc. announced they would be expanding their partnership with Esri to further boost the adoption and integration of geographic information system (GIS) software in the construction and infrastructure management industry.

This initiative, which was announced at the 2024 Esri User Conference in San Diego, CA, is designed to optimize and streamline workflows as well as enable more sustainable processes.

"By more tightly integrating our advanced geospatial technologies and industry solutions with Esri’s market-leading ArcGIS software, we are making it easier for our customers to achieve unparalleled accuracy, efficiency, and sustainability in their projects. Together, we can enhance the way people build and manage infrastructure to create safer, smarter and more resilient communities worldwide,” said Chris Stern, vice president of corporate ventures and partnerships at Trimble.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4bOlQyr

Through this deeper partnership, the two major construction software companies will offer greater technology integrations and more comprehensive asset lifecycle management solutions. Earlier this week, Trimble announced they would be expanding their partnership with Esri to further boost the adoptio...

16/07/2024

A unified voice and dedicated organization working on the shared interests of its members is super important when it comes to advancing innovative solutions. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Keith Platte, director of AASHTOWare®, discusses the incredible impact the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has in working on behalf of its 52 members to move innovation forward in the transportation industry.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3Lx9wYt

11/07/2024

State transportation agencies are already seeing the effects of climate change on their infrastructure and transportation systems. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Secretary of California State Transportation Agency, Toks Omishakin, discusses the impact climate change has had on the state of California and his agency's work. He also shares how important it is for the industry to tackle today’s transportation problems with modern solutions.

Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4eYacng

10/07/2024

When getting more funding for projects or the implementation of innovation, it is important that elected officials hear from state departments of transportation on their needs. State DOT CEOs do not set policy or appropriate money. That is the job of elected officials. In this episode of the InfraTalk Podcast, Secretary of WSDOT, Roger Millar, discusses the important role innovation plays in making our nation's infrastructure safer, resilient, and more efficient. He also touches on the need for elected officials to hear from the DOTs and their partners in the industry when it comes to decisions being made about funding and policy.

Listen to the full episode here: https://spoti.fi/3zMeH4b