On September 18, 2024, the U.S. DOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence kicked off the first of the three-part thought leadership series: Making Good on the Potential of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Remarks and key insights were shared by experts on emergency relief and infrastructure recovery. FHWA Associate Administrator for the Office of Infrastructure Hari Kalla and Caltrans Deputy Director for Project Delivery and Chief Engineer Donna Berry discussed strategies for responding to natural disasters and catastrophes, with a focus on rapid recovery and coordination.

U.S. DOT Volpe Center Director Anne Aylward opened the session by welcoming U.S. DOT Office of the Secretary Coordinator for Project Delivery Stephanie Pollack, who delivered opening remarks. 

Pollack reflected on how infrastructure crises, such as the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and I-95, often prompt faster and more collaborative project delivery, raising important questions about how these approaches could be applied more broadly. She also highlighted the significant impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which is approaching its third anniversary. She shared highlights of BIL’s progress, including nearly 60,000 projects being built with BIL funding; more than 175,000 miles of roadway being repaired; more than 500 projects funded across Tribal Nations; 10,000 public transit projects, and more. She emphasized the importance of delivering these projects efficiently, which is why the Project Delivery Center of Excellence is a crucial resource for best practices, tools, and innovation in project management. 

Emergency Relief

Hari Kalla focused on FHWA’s Emergency Relief Program, which has been in place for nearly 100 years. The program is designed to provide financial resources to state and local agencies following natural disasters or catastrophic failures, not for heavy maintenance or routine emergency repair activities. The program receives $100 million annually, but Congress often provides additional appropriations to meet rising needs.

Kalla highlighted two main methods through which the program provides funding:

• Quick Release: A rapid disbursement of funds for emergency repairs within the first 270 days post-disaster, often processed within 24 hours. Recent quick releases were provided for Connecticut, Vermont, and Puerto Rico due to severe flooding.
• Semi-Annual Allocation: A biannual review where states request funding for eligible projects. The program recently allocated $802 million to 36 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

I-95 Bridge Collapse

Kalla shared lessons learned from the collapse of a section of Interstate 95 (I-95) in northeast Philadelphia, PA. In June 2023, a tanker truck carrying gasoline caught fire beneath an I-95 overpass. The section of roadway typically carried about 160,000 vehicles a day.

The response was prompt, with a disaster proclamation issued the day after the incident. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) quickly developed a plan to manage traffic and initiate repairs. The response included a rapid damage inspection and funding approval, allowing for temporary lanes of I-95 to reopen within 12 days. PennDOT also received $22 million additional funding through the semi-annual allocation. In 11 months, they were able to complete all the permanent construction, and I 95 was open to the traffic.

Key Lessons Learned

Kalla concluded by reflecting on the importance of learning from past events to enhance future emergency responses and infrastructure resilience. He highlighted several lessons learned:

• Communication: Effective communication with the public and stakeholders is crucial during emergencies.
• Coordination: Pre-established partnerships enhance responsiveness during crises.
• Innovation: Utilizing new materials and technologies can improve reconstruction efforts.
• Resiliency: Emphasizing the importance of building more resilient infrastructure in the aftermath of disasters is crucial for future disaster preparedness.

Santa Monica I-10 Freeway Fire

Donna Berry discussed the rapid response and recovery efforts following a significant fire that damaged the I-10 freeway in Los Angeles County in November 2023. The fire severely damaged a 450-foot section of the I-10, impacting a crucial transportation corridor used by over 300,000 vehicles daily. 

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) collaborated with various agencies for rapid recovery efforts. Within a day, Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency, facilitating immediate cleanup and repairs. Within 48 hours, over 1,000 tons of debris had been removed enabling all lanes of the freeway to reopen in just 8 days. 

Key Lessons Learned

Berry highlighted key lessons learned that can enhance future emergency responses: 

• Rapid Response and Coordination: Robust emergency plans and effective interagency communication are critical to minimize disruption and efficiently manage traffic.
• Structural Resiliency and Redundancy: Ongoing assessment of infrastructure resilience, particularly in urban areas susceptible to hazards, is needed. The incident underscored the importance of having alternative routes and diverse public transportation options.
• Public Communication and Transparency: Effective public outreach is critical, with daily updates on traffic and transportation options. Transparency about repair timelines helped manage public expectations and minimize frustration.
• Post-Incident Analysis and Improvement: Conducting thorough evaluations post-incident is essential for continual improvement. This includes training for personnel to ensure preparedness for future emergencies.
• Reevaluating Airspace Lease Program: Caltrans is reassessing its airspace leasing program to enhance safety and management practices, ensuring compliance and addressing potential risks.

Both FHWA and Caltrans highlighted the need for proactive coordination, innovation, and resilience in infrastructure recovery. They shared concrete examples of rapid response and repair after catastrophic events, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement in emergency management strategies.

Applying Lessons Learned to Project Delivery

The discussion also highlighted how the accelerated timelines of emergency response and repair efforts set high public expectations for similar speed in non-emergency projects. Both Kalla and Berry noted that response to these infrastructure catastrophes often involve higher risks, quick decision-making, and innovative problem-solving approaches that are not always feasible in standard project delivery. The key takeaway is to apply the innovative thinking and collaboration from emergencies to standard projects wherever possible, but with a managed, due diligence approach to risk.

All speakers noted that collaboration among agencies is also a critical lesson learned that can be applied to standard project delivery. During emergency situations, early collaboration and partnerships foster innovation, enable real-time problem solving, and facilitate quick adaptation of methods and materials. Expanding this to standard projects, such as through progressive design-build and alternative delivery methods, can lead to faster, more effective project outcomes. Building those partnerships early in the process is essential for both emergency situations and regular project delivery. 

The discussion also noted that special events (such as the Olympics or the World Cup) can offer lessons for expediting project delivery. The planning and preparation involved in such events require extensive coordination among public transportation, government, and private entities, similar to emergency responses. These events can serve as models for innovative methods, such as managing travel patterns and communication strategies to optimize public infrastructure under extreme demands.

View the recording for more details.

The next event in the series, Best Practices to Get Big Infrastructure Projects off the Ground, will be held Tuesday, October 8 at 1:00 pm ET. This session will feature Stephen Sigmund, Chief of Public Outreach, Gateway Development Commission, and Jessica Mefford-Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Valley Metro. Christopher Coes, Acting Under Secretary of Transportation Policy, U.S. DOT, will provide opening remarks.

*The views of the speakers may not represent the views of U.S. DOT.

Sponsored by the U.S. DOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence  

Hosted by the U.S. DOT Volpe Center, the Making Good on the Potential of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law thought leadership series is sponsored by the U.S. DOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence.  

The U.S. DOT Volpe Center is committed to principles of accessibility and inclusion. If you require reasonable accommodations, please contact collateral duty Disability Program Specialist Stephanie Chase and carbon copy EEO Manager Eliot Sutler on your request.