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Focus Archive - Public Works

Please note that Focus section links were valid at the time of their original posting. However, since Web sites and addresses change frequently, we cannot guarantee that all links will remain operative.

MRSC Services Survey (October 21)
MRSC is conducting a brief survey to assess whether or not our existing services are meeting your needs and to determine your interest in any additional services. We would appreciate your taking a few minutes to respond to these nine questions. Thank you.

Releasing the Bonds (October 07)
New federal instruments fund state and local infrastructure projects. More from American City & County.

Trimming Waste (September 16)
A greener, cheaper way to deal with garbage - solar-powered trash receptacles/compactors. More from Slate.

Biking and Walking: Our Secret Weapon? (August 05)
Biking and walking proponents say it’s time for the federal government to focus less on new and expanded highways, and far more on safe pathways and “complete streets” for our towns and cities. More from Citiwire.

Don't Be So Square (August 05)
Why American drivers should learn to love the roundabout. More from Slate.

From One-Way Rotary System to Modern Roundabout (July 15)
Across America, towns and cities of all shapes and sizes have been choosing modern roundabouts over antiquated signalization equipment and expensive grade separated interchanges. More from Making Places.

Who Should Fix the Potholes? (June 10)
Sometimes it saves money to outsource government work. But don’t assume that. More from Governing.

Cash Flow (June 10)
With little help from the stimulus package, water officials continue searching for long-term funding. More from American City & County.

A Street Renaissance in NYC (June 03)
The New York City Street Design Manual, two years in the making, promises to serve as a comprehensive resource for promoting higher quality street designs and more efficient project implementation.

Gee Whiz! Introducing The Pothole Killer (May 27)
There is a futuristic new machine called the pothole killer that allows one person–who never has to get out of the truck cab–to “hot patch” 100 potholes in a day. More from The Infrastructurist.

June 10th - National Pipeline Safety Day (May 27)
A resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives has declared June 10th, 2009 as National Pipeline Safety Day. June 10th is the tenth anniversary of the Bellingham pipeline rupture and tragedy. The resolution reminds us that local governments need to be aware of pipeline safety issues and take appropriate steps to safeguard the public. Local governments should require all applicants obtaining permits that involve digging or moving earth to use the 8 -1-1 “call before you dig” system. Planning departments should make sure that all major pipelines are clearly marked on maps used when reviewing development applications.

MRSC's In Focus e-Newsletter for Councilmembers and Commissioners (May 20)
MRSC's bi-weekly In Focus e-newsletter is an excellent way for your elected officials to stay informed about the latest news, research, events and trends affecting Washington city and county governments. Sign them up today.

Why the Shovels Matter (May 13)
The state and local governments that are going to benefit from the stimulus package the most—the ones that will get the most bang for the buck and move their economies back to prosperity most quickly—are those that did their strategic thinking long ago. More from Governing.

Zipcar Launches "FastFleet" Service for Public Sector Vehicle Fleets (May 06)
Zipcar recently announced their new FastFleet service that enables government and other fleet managers to save money, reduce risk and promote sustainability. More from Zipcar.

Wireless at Work (April 30)
The latest technology moves public services from the office to the field. More from American City & County.

New Century Infrastructure: Where’s the Plan??? (April 30)
The United States desperately requires a forward-looking plan for 21st century infrastructure that can support and sustain renewed economic growth and accommodate 100 million more Americans over the next 40 years. More from Citiwire.

Infrastructure Madness (April 30)
Don't believe everything you read about the failing bridges and antiquated waterworks. More from Slate.

Celebrating 75 Years of Research and Services! (April 23)
MRSC proudly continues the program begun as the Bureau of Governmental Research and Services in 1934 at the University of Washington. In honor of our organization’s 75th anniversary, we hope that you will enjoy a multimedia slideshow containing highlights of our history. Also see “Twenty-Five Years of Governmental Research and Service” prepared in honor of the Bureau’s 25th anniversary in 1959.

Performance Measures for Snow and Ice Control Operations (April 22)
A new report from the Transportation Research Board, Performance Measures for Snow and Ice Control Operations, explores methods and measures for assessing agency and contractor performance in snow and ice control operations.

MRSC Blog: Selected Local Government Press Releases (April 22)
We have launched our blog containing selected local government press releases to keep you informed on new Washington local government programs and initiatives. Each entry is assigned a category (finance, planning, etc.) and a tag (wetlands, urban forestry, etc.) so you can sort them by topic. If you have not already done so, please add blog@mrsc.org to your agency's press release distribution list.

Small Public Works Roster Limits Raised (April 15)
Governor Gregoire has signed HB 1196 (Chapter 74, 2009 Laws), raising the maximum dollar amount allowed for use of a small works roster process (RCW 39.04.155) from $200,000 to $300,000, effective July 26th, 2009. In addition the dollar amount requiring notification of all contractors on the roster (see RCW 39.04.155 (2c)) has also been changed - from between $100,000 and $200,000 to between $150,000 and $300,000.

Getting Ready for Build America Bonds (March 26)
There's a new tool for financial officials and managers to master. More from Governing.

What the Stimulus Bill Really Means for Cities (March 26)
President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains an abundance of funding figures that should make urban enthusiasts very happy. More from Next American City.

Automatic Water Meter Reading Technology (March 18)
Automatic meter reading devices provide more accurate information on billing, water leaks, abnormal consumption, and previous consumption amounts. More from Water Efficiency.

Green Infrastructure Municipal Handbook Grows (February 26)
The US Environmental Protection Agency is developing The Municipal Handbook to help local officials implement green infrastructure in their communities.

At the Breaking Point (February 12)
The sorry state of the country's water infrastructure and what it means if we don't fix it. More from American City & County.

A Road by Any Other Name (February 12)
It's dull and technical sounding, but the word "infrastructure" is now being heard regularly and often in public discourse. More from Governing.

2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure (February 05)
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently released their 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, estimating the nation still stands at a D average. More from ASCE.

Stimulating Main Street (February 05)
Most infrastructure is local. That's where stimulus spending can do the most the quickest. More from Governing.

Creative and Cost-Effective Winterization Programs (January 15)
Cities are re-examining their winter weather plans and are implementing new innovative and cost efficient programs. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Complete Streets Aim to Please All Users (January 08)
For years, transportation planners have designed roads with enough room for bicyclists, motor vehicles, pedestrians and buses. Recently, though, communities have begun unifying those efforts under a set of shared policies called Complete Streets. More from American City & County.

Finally a Green Light For Smart Infrastructure? (December 11)
Even as America plunges into recession, a bright shaft of light has appeared.It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity, driven by a popular president-elect, to mount a massive national infrastructure rebuilding program. More from Citwire.

Guide to Managing Stormwater (December 04)
A new publication from the Center for Watershed Protection, Managing Stormwater in Your Community: A Guide for Building an Effective Post-Construction Program (PDF, 22MB), provides stormwater professionals with practical guidance, insights, and tools to build effective programs.

Urban Stormwater Management Report (November 07)
A new report from the National Research Council, Urban Stormwater Management in the United States (PDF 10.8MB), provides a description of the history of stormwater management in the United States and a number of recommendations on how stormwater management can be improved to achieve better environmental outcomes.

What's Your GPCD? (October 09)
Want to strike up a lively conversation with an urban water efficiency professional? Try this: “So, what’s your GPCD?” More from Water Efficiency.

Good Question! (October 02)
Regular users of this site know that we feature an "inquiry of the week" on the MRSC home page (see right-hand column). We have now incorporated a compilation of these questions and responses into the MRSC Index. The MRSC Index is a one-stop listing of all web pages, documents and inquiries that we have on any given topic. Browse the index by topic or search it by keyword.

Local Government Budget Library (October 02)
MRSC maintains an extensive collection of local government budgets organized by city, county and special purpose districts. We also link to online budgets (along with other documents and services) within the profiles that we maintain for each city and county.

Green Infrastructure Rising (September 11)
The future of stormwater has arrived, and that future is green. Green infrastructure, that is. More from Planning.

EPA Launches Treatment Database (September 04)
The Environmental Protction Agency's (EPA) Drinking Water Treatability Database is a new online tool for water treatment professionals that can be used for assessing the effectiveness of dozens of treatment processes, conducting literature reviews, and assessing relevant regulatory issues for specific contaminants.

New Feature - National News Clippings (September 04)
We've added a new feature to our "Local Governments in the News" section below. Now, in addition to our regular local news source clippings, we will also be featuring news clippings from various national news sources highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments and special districts.

Cities in a State of Rapid Decay (August 19)
While the mortgage crisis has hit hard in California and other prosperous regions, the cities that are sliding fastest into decline are still in the Rust Belt, with disappearing populations and bleak job prospects. More from Forbes.

Solar-Powered Trash Can Demonstration Project (August 13)
Philadelphia's Department of Streets recently began testing a new solar-powered trash receptable and compactor that can store four to six times the volume of ordinary litter baskets and cut fuel use and greenhouse-gas emissions from garbage collection by 80 percent.

Guidebook to Help Water Utilities Improve Energy Management (August 13)
A new guidebook from the EPA, Ensuring a Sustainable Future: An Energy Management Guidebook for Wastewater and Water Utilities, will help utilities systematically assess their current energy costs and practices, set measurable performance improvement goals, and monitor and measure their progress over time.

Financing Alternatives Comparison Tool (August 07)
The Environmental Protection Agency's "Financing Alternatives Comparison Tool" is a a free financial analysis tool that helps identify the most cost effective method to fund a wastewater or drinking water management project. More from the EPA.

The Cracks are Showing (July 17)
America’s tradition of bold national projects has dwindled. With the country’s infrastructure crumbling, it is time to revive it. More from The Economist.

Quick Links to City/County Information (July 17)
MRSC recently expanded the types of key documents (e.g., budgets and comp plans) and services (e.g., council broadcasts and online service request forms) that we track in our "city profiles" page. Use these profiles for quick access to city and town documents and services. For county information, see our "county profiles" page.

Workplace Rule for Outdoor Heat takes effect July 5 (July 03)
With temperatures reaching near-record levels in many parts of the state this week, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is reminding employers that a permanent outdoor heat rule takes effect Saturday, July 5.

New Sustainable Stormwater Best Management Practices Web Site (June 26)
The Water Environment Research Federation web site is designed to encourage and facilitate the integration of stormwater best management practices into development projects in your area.

The Finance Officer’s Role in Capital Projects (June 05)
In assuming a greater responsibility or project leadership, the finance officer can help position the local government to consistently make decisions aligned with overall goals and objectives. More from Government Finance Review.

A Powerful Combination (May 23)
King County's Department of Transportation reports on the success of their recent hybrid utility truck pilot project. More from American City & County.

Receive RSS Feeds of In Focus (May 23)
We’ve added another option for you to receive information from MRSC: RSS Feeds. Simply click on the RSS button to create an “MRSC In Focus” folder in your email program or RSS reader. You will automatically begin receiving updates to our main Focus page, “Local Governments in the News,” the four Advisor columns, and our “What’s New” section. You can unsubscribe at any time by simply deleting the folder from your RSS reader or email program.

Web Sightings - Water Conservation (May 01)
Web Sightings - Water Conservation This month we’ve selected water conservation sites that address general tips on water conservation as well as activities of cities, counties, and special districts:

General Resources

MRSC Web page on Water Conservation
Water Conserve – Water conservation portal and search engine
Water Sense, U.S. EPA - Information on Water-Efficient Products
Partnership for Water Conservation, Puget Sound area
Water Wiser, American Water Works Association - A comprehensive clearinghouse of resources on water conservation, efficiency and demand management for conservation professionals and the larger water supply community.

Washington State

Water Conservation Tips, Washington Department of Ecology
Water Use Efficiency, Washington Department of Health

Saving Water Partnership

Washington Local Governments

Free Water Quality and Smart Growth Toolkit (April 23)
The "Balancing Water Quality and Smart Growth Goals Toolkit" CD-ROM from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is a compilation of valuable resources and ideas, including a new webcast on "Protecting Water Quality While Meeting Smart Growth Goals." More form ICMA.

Locate Sample Ordinances, Contracts, RFPs (March 13)
You can use MRSC's search system to locate a wide variety of local government documents. Note the new options to the right of your search results that allow you to limit your results by agency type, population range, region, form and class of government. Watch a brief tutorial to learn more about using our advanced search features.

Benchmarking Fleet Operations (February 27)
One of the most common areas to benchmark within any government involves fleet accidents and incidents. More from the Public Entity Risk Institute.

Miles to Go (February 27)
Higher prices are driving fleet managers to extend truck life. More from American City & County.

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure (January 24)
A new publication from the U.S. EPA, Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure, describes an action strategy promoting the benefits of green infrastructure in mitigating overflows from combined and separate sewers and reducing runoff.

The State of the Union — Crumbling (January 24)
America's infrastructure is struggling, but from where will the funding and political will come to fix it? More from Stateline.

The Intersection of Trees and Safety (January 17)
In the automobile age, a real concern with safety has resulted in street tree standards that dictate long setbacks from intersections, ostensibly to achieve unobstructed sight lines for drivers. But are street trees the safety problem they are purported to be? More from Access.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) (January 02)
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Unreconstructed (November 28)
States are poised to spend billions on fixing infrastructure. They might want to fix the construction industry first. More from Governing.

Fueling Doubts (November 06)
Ethanol and biodiesel may not offer the net environmental benefits many city and counties seek from switching to alternative fuels. More from American City & County.

Is Water the Next Carbon? (November 06)
While discussions of reducing humans’ carbon footprint have only recently emerged, people have been conserving and reusing their water supplies for thousands of years. More from Urban Land.

Build, Crumble and Build More (October 31)
Why don’t we fix old roads and bridges? Because it’s more fun to make new ones. More from Governing.

Does Not Drain to Bay (October 31)
Using a revolutionary series of "natural drainage systems," Seattle is attempting to detain and slow stormwater by trying to mimic the forest floor and pasture that once covered its landscape. More from Terrain.

Power Play (October 31)
Climate-change awareness and rising prices for electricity and natural gas are pushing wastewater facilities to produce and use renewable energy. More from American City & County.

Watershed Protection Protection Grants (October 23)
The Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection Web site is a searchable database of financial assistance sources (grants, loans, cost-sharing) available to fund a variety of watershed protection projects.

Just how Sturdy are the Nation's Bridges? (October 03)
The rush-hour collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in August has triggered shock waves of concern about the condition of the nation's bridges. More from American City & County.

Energy Efficiency Creates a More Sustainable Bottom Line (October 03)
An obvious starting point for local governments’ energy efficiency efforts is their own buildings. More from Public Management.

Urban Stormwater Retrofit Manual Released (October 03)
The Center for Watershed Protection's recently released "Urban Stormwater Retrofit Practices" manual provides all the resources needed to develop an effective local retrofit program. More from the Center for Watershed Protection.

Many Happy Returns (September 19)
By adopting energy savings performance contracts, local governments can save money and update antiquated and inefficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, and other similar systems in public buildings without tapping into capital funds. More from American City & County.

Confluence of Interest (September 19)
Thousands of citizen-led organizations are working to improve water quality across political boundaries. More from Governing.

Bottled Watergate (September 11)
A shocking discovery was made in late August: Some bottled water is municipal tap water. More from American City & County.

Planning for Stormwater: Parking Lots (September 05)
The University of Connecticut's Planning for Stormwater website includes an overview of paved parking areas and their impact on stormwater runoff.

Street Wise (August 01)
A study compared how well old-city street layouts handled traffic versus modern approaches. The results set off a firestorm. More from Governing.

Stormwater Management and Climate Change (July 30)
A recent article, Stormwater Management As Adaptation to Climate Change looks at some widely divergent aspects of stormwater management that are interlinked with climate change adaptation. Read the article in Stormwater, July/August 2007.

Puget Sound Region Stormwater Management Costs (July 30)
From the Water Center at the University of Washington, a Fact Sheet on Coping with stormwater—how much does it cost?

The Next Drug Problem (June 19)
Hidden among the well-known problems faced by water professionals — aging infrastructure, dwindling supply — is another emerging issue: rising amounts of pharmaceutical compounds in surface water and drinking water. Read article in the June issue of American City and County.

New Clean Water Bill Alters Definition "Waters of the U.S." (June 11)
New regulations, preemption, and unfunded mandates are in the works for state and local governments under a new proposal to revise the 1972 Clean Water Act. H.R. 2421, proposes to eliminate the word “navigable” from the definition of “waters of the U.S.” within the Clean Water Act, essentially placing all bodies of water or “perceived” bodies of water under federal jurisdiction. More from NACO News and Analysis

Guidelines for the Selection of Snow and Ice Control Materials (May 30)
A recent Transportation Research Board (TRB) report, "Guidelines for the Selection of Snow and Ice Control Materials to Mitigate Environmental Impacts," explores guidelines for the selection of snow and ice control materials through an evaluation of their cost, performance, and impacts on the environment and infrastructure. More from the TRB.

Preventing Pathogenic Contamination of Drinking Water (May 30)
A new primer developed by The Groundwater Foundation, "Protecting Our Water: A Primer for Preventing Pathogenic Contamination of Drinking Water Sources," describes how communities can take action to reduce pathogenic threats to their source water.

EPA Releases Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox (May 23)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox, a set of Web-based resources designed to assist communities across the U.S. conduct locally effective watershed outreach.

Budding controversy (May 23)
What do park maintenance workers who spend the summer mowing ball fields and clearing debris from trails do in the winter when parks are scarcely used? More from American City and County.

Counties Victorious in Supreme Court Flow Control Case (May 15)
In one broad stroke, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the legality of flow control, and local governments came out the winners. More from NACo's County News.

National "Call Before You Dig" Telephone Number Launched (May 09)
Created to eliminate the confusion of multiple "Call Before You Dig" numbers across the country and to be an easy-to-remember resource, 811 will make it easier for Americans to call before attempting any digging project. More from Government Technology.

U.S. Supreme Court Sides with Local Governments (May 09)
On April 30th, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down two rulings favorable to local governments. The National League of Cities (NLC) joined amicus briefs in support of the prevailing parties in both cases. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Public Works Bidder Responsibility Mandated and Defined (April 20)
Governor Gregoire, signed into law on April 19, 2007, statutory provisions that define bidder responsibility for public works contracts (including small works roster contracts) and allow public agencies to add their own supplementary responsibility requirements. More from K&LGates Newsstand.

Local Governments and Sustainable Infrastructure (April 18)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Local Government Advisory Committee has developed a DVD that highlights how local governments address aging sewer and water systems to meet current and future challenges facing our communities. More from the EPA.

TRB Report on Roundabouts (April 10)
A recently published report from the Transportation Research Board (TRB), Roundabouts in the United States, explores methods of estimating the safety and operational impacts of roundabouts and examines updated design criteria for roundabouts. More from the TRB.

Can You Dig it? (March 22)
New less expensive and easy-to-use mobile GIS equipment with sub-foot accuracy is helping utilities keep track of their assets. More from American City & County.

Public Outreach Makes County’s Recycling Program a Success (February 06)
Less has turned out to be more when it comes to Pierce County's curbside recycling program. More from NACo's County News.

EPA's Wastewise Communities Program (February 06)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Wastewise Communities Program will support local governments' efforts in residential municipal solid waste reduction and the related climate change impacts.

Grants Announced for Infrastructure Protection (January 23)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released their fiscal year 2007 grant guidance and application kits for five grant programs that will total roughly $445 million in funding for state, local and private industry infrastructure protection initiatives. More from DHS.

Rain Gardens Will Be Coming To A City Near You (January 23)
Because of the benefits of pollution reduction and management, cities are building rain gardens and encouraging their citizens to build them as well. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Wetlands Funding Available in Region 10 (January 23)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions 9 and 10 are now accepting applications for the Wetlands Program Development Grants. More from EPA (150KB).

Moving Toward High-Performance Infrastructure (November 22)
In places where communities struggle with ever-expanding areas of impervious pavement and degraded water quality—and where flooding and drought are becoming a larger part of the picture—earth-based landscape approaches can have a measurable benefit. More form Urban Land (350 KB).

State-of-the-Art Plant Makes Trash Vanish into Thin Air (October 11)
In a move that would create the first facility of its kind in the United States, St. Lucie County, FL, is planning to construct a plant that would vaporize trash at temperatures nearly as hot as the surface of the sun and create energy through technology called plasma gasification. More from NACo's County News.

Stormwater Outreach Materials Available from EPA (October 11)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a set of materials that state or local governments can customize and use in their own stormwater outreach campaigns. More from the EPA.

Getting the Drift (October 11)
For many public works directors, snow and ice control planning is a year-round activity, often affected by a community's complexity, local weather patterns, public preferences and politics. More from American City & County.

Special Report: Regional Thinking (September 26)
The Denver metropolitan area has been a model of regional cooperation, with municipalities and counties working together to improve infrastructure and accommodate growth. More from Urban Land.

Turning Stormwater Runoff into a Community Amenity (August 15)
The transformation of stormwater runoff into a community amenity is the next step for smart growth neighborhoods and can make them even greater places to live. More from Smart Growth.

Water Security Handbook (June 06)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has produced A Water Security Handbook: Planning for and Responding to Drinking Water Contamination Threats and Incidents (8,827kb), which will help drinking water systems understand the basics of planning for and responding to threatened or actual incidents.

Truck Emission Standards Set to Tighten in 2007 (April 26)
By next year, emission level requirements for new diesel trucks are going to tighten substantially, raising sticker prices and operation costs. More from American City & County.

Financing Infrastructure - The Big Thaw (March 16)
Voters may be coming around to the idea that government needs their money to keep public works up to speed. More from Governing.

New Report Helps Water Managers to Look 'Beyond Privatization' (February 28)
The Pacific Institute’s report, Beyond Privatization: Restructuring Water Systems to Improve Performance, finds that public versus private is not the bright line that separates success from failure. More from the Pacific Institute.

Smart City - How Artists in Residence Affect Space and Place (February 22)
Seattle's Department of Transportation Artist-in-Residence talks about re-defining the parameters for creativity and public art in the city's pedestrian environment in this week's Smart City radio show.

Infrastructure - Paying the Price (February 22)
In many communities across the United States, failing or overburdened water and wastewater systems are forcing residents and city officials to reevaluate their commitment to funding capital improvement projects for water and wastewater. More from American City & County.

New Ask MRSC E-newsletter (January 18)
Ask MRSC is a free, subscription-based, monthly e-mail newsletter featuring answers to selected questions received by our consultant staff. It's one more way for you to stay informed on current issues affecting city and county government. View a sample issue or go directly to our subscription page and sign up to receive Ask MRSC today. It's free!

New Guide for Small Community Water System Security (January 11)
Owners and operators of very small community water systems now have a new guide from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Drinking Water Security for Small Systems Serving 3,300 or Fewer Persons (4,291 KB), to help them in improving drinking water system security through vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans.

Bellingham Replaces Meters with Parking Pay Stations (January 04)
Beginning in January 2006, hourly parking meters will be replaced with automated pay stations in several areas of downtown Bellingham. More from the city of Bellingham.

EPA Issues Guidance to Control Urban Runoff Pollution (December 20)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released "National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas." The comprehensive 512-page guidance will help local governments and others protect water resources from polluted runoff that can result from everyday activities and urban development.

Defending Against a Deluge (December 15)
The disaster in New Orleans has prompted a nationwide examination of man-made levees, as well as interest in restoring natural floodplains. More from Governing.

Getting the lead OUT (December 06)
Reducing lead in the nation's drinking water supply is fast becoming a national priority. More from American City & County.

Geographic Information System - Field of Beams (November 17)
Communities are using a new generation of portable GIS units to expand their GIS mapping. More from American City & County.

Transportation - Making the Connection (October 25)
Regardless of their size, communities can realize three major benefits from better connectivity: shorter trips; a wider variety of travel choices; and more cost-effective public services and infrastructure. More from the Planning Commissioners Journal (547kb).

Facilities Maintenance - Building a Plan (September 21)
What city and county managers need to know to create an effective facilities maintenance and capital plan. More from American City & County.

Successful Approaches to Watershed Management (September 21)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Community-Based Watershed Management Handbook describes highly successful approaches to watershed management implemented by the 28 National Estuary Programs.

America's Crumbling Infrastructure--And How to Fix It (August 16)
The American Society of Civil Engineers recently judged the country on 15 infrastructure categories and awarded the U.S. an overall grade of "D," estimating that $1.6 trillion needs to be invested in the next five years to solve current and looming infrastructure problems. More from Metropolis Magazine.

Privatizing State Highways (July 26)
In Virginia a consortium of road builders and operators has offered the state $1 billion in return for revenue generated by a toll road, and the consortium will pay for maintenance costs. Could a similar approach be used in our state? More from the Washington Post.

Stepping up to the Challenges of Wastewater Technology (July 19)
In 1995, the city of Olympia eagerly embraced a new technology for the treatment and disposal of wastewater in order to increase its density. This spring, only a decade after adopting the new technology, the city temporarily banned it. More from Planning Magazine.

WSDOT Grants for Local Transportation Projects (July 13)
Communities across the state have an opportunity to enhance their transportation system and improve safety through several grant programs being offered by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). More from WSDOT.

Public Works - Bridge over Troubled Water (July 06)
Despite the absence of federal funding, communities are finding ways to improve their water systems. More from American City & County.

Fleet Management - Fuel for Thought (June 15)
Cost of operation will be the deciding factor when local fleets choose between diesel and alternative fuels. More from American City & County.

Public Works - The Invisible Problem (June 07)
The problems may be hidden underground, but sooner or later they will surface. America's water and wastewater systems are crumbling, and there is not enough money to repair them. More from American City & County.

One-Call Underground Utility Locator Legislation (May 26)
Recent amendments to the state law on one-call underground utility locater services provide that anyone who digs within 35 feet of a transmission pipeline without first calling to have the utilities located is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $10,000 fine. More ...

Complete the Streets! (May 09)
New state and local policies require that virtually all roads be built to serve all types of users. More from Planning Magazine.

Taking Back the Trash (April 25)
The reasons that caused some communities to contract out solid waste services may be the same reasons for bringing them back in. More from American City & County.

How (In)accurate Are Demand Forecasts in Public Works Projects? (April 19)
Despite the enormous sums of money being spent on transportation infrastructure, surprisingly little systematic knowledge exists about the costs, benefits, and risks involved. More from the Journal of the American Planning Association.

Emission Control: Do We have a Problem? (March 29)
Fleet managers can stop worrying. Adapting diesel-powered trucks to comply with tighter emission rules is cheaper and easier than expected. More from American City & County.

Weekly Drought Update (March 24)
No, the drought isn't over, say officials with the state Department of Ecology (DOE). Despite rain and snow, Washington is still parched. More from DOE.

Drought Emergency Declared (March 18)
On March 10, 2005, Governor Christine Gregoire authorized the Department of Ecology (DOE) to declare a drought emergency. For more information, see MRSC's Water Conservation Web page, DOE's 2005 Drought Emergency Web page, and the Governor's press release.

Emergency Response and Narrow Streets (March 15)
The Local Government Commission has prepared two new fact sheets summarizing solutions that make narrower streets associated with "smart growth" developments safe for emergency responders as well as residents.

2005 Report Card – Nation's Infrastructure Crumbling (March 15)
Our nation's infrastructure has shown little to no improvement since receiving a collective D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2001. More from ASCE .

Mapping ROI for Geospatial Projects (March 15)
Local government IT managers can find significant return on investment (ROI) for geospatial projects if they look in the right places. More from American City & County.

NACo’s Grants Clearinghouse makes Finding Money Easier (March 09)
The National Association of County Officials (NACo) has developed a Grants Clearinghouse to streamline and simplify the grant-seeking process for member counties. More from NACo’s County News.

Should Cities Convert One-Way Streets to Two-Way? (February 24)
The latest fad among urban planners is to convert one-way streets to two-way. The goal, they say, is to slow down traffic and make streets more pedestrian friendly. More from the Thoreau Institute.

New Online Water Terrorism Preparedness Guide Now Available (February 24)
The WaterHealthConnection website has released a free on-line terrorism preparedness guide that addresses the public health and security challenges resulting from intentional acts of water terrorism. More from the Public Entity Risk Institute.

Designating the Urban Interstates (February 15)
An article from the U.S. Department of Transportation offers an historical perspective on how the urban Interstates were selected and the controversy that still surrounds their impacts on our cities. More from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Draining Resources (January 26)
Local governments are losing hundreds of millions of dollars on billions of gallons of water that never reach their customers. More from American City & County.

Sharing Equipment Saves (January 12)
A cluster of small towns in metropolitan Minneapolis-St. Paul is saving money through an informal arrangement for borrowing heavy equipment and attachments. More from American City & County.

Get MRSC Web Site Updates and Quarterly Newsletter by E-mail (January 04)
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Web Sightings - 2004 (January 04)
In case you missed them, here's a look back at 2004's Web Sightings:

Cottage Housing (December)
Non-motorized Transportation (November)
Elections (October)
Public Art Programs (September)
Resource Lands (August)
Healthy Communities (July)
Terrorism and Homeland Security (June)
Volunteer Programs (May)
Citizen Involvement in Local Government (March)
Downtown Revitalization (February)
Shoreline Management (January)