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AEDNews - Construction Equipment Industry NewsTransportation TV Looks at Vermont: A Year after Tropical Storm IreneIn August 2011, Tropical Strom Irene slammed into the northeastern United States causing overwhelming damage to infrastructure throughout the region. In Vermont, widespread flooding took the lives of six people. Five hundred miles of state roadway, 34 state bridges, and 200 miles of railway suffered catastrophic damage and 13 communities were isolated. Vermont state officials estimate that Tropical Storm Irene caused $486.2 million in damage to state and local highways, bridges, and railways. The American Association of State Highway Officials' Transportation TV recently visited the region to document the amazing recovery effort by the people of Vermont. A short documentary video, "Vermont: One Year after Tropical Storm Irene," http://www.transportationtv.org/ recognizes the extraordinary response, recovery, and resolve of the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and its many partners to rebuild. Just four months after the August 28, 2011 tropical storm, VTrans reopened every section of closed state roadway. VTrans officials credit private citizens who became an army of public servants; hundreds of workers and equipment from Maine and New Hampshire Departments of Transportation; 800 National Guard troops from eight states; and approximately 2,000 workers from private sector construction and consulting firms. "We reached out and we got tremendous help from the Maine DOT and the New Hampshire DOT," said Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary Brian Searles in the video. "I think more than 225 people, more than 200 pieces of equipment came here to Vermont and stayed and we will be eternally grateful for their help."  In June, VTrans was honored by the America's Transportation Awards http://www.americastransportationaward.org/default.aspx?ContentID=223as a Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO) regional winner for its Tropical Storm Irene Recovery effort. The competition -- sponsored by AASHTO, AAA, and the US Chamber of Commerce -- recognizes excellence in transportation. The video documents how VTrans worked with Google to deliver real-time travel information to motorists and the ways it collaborated with other state agencies to expedite the construction permitting process to speed up repairs without sacrificing environmental protections. Most of the state's transportation infrastructure has been restored; however, the recovery is ongoing. The video includes information on the many ways citizens are still being affected by Tropical Storm Irene and it explains what viewers can do to help. Watch Vermont: One Year after Tropical Storm Irene at http://www.TransportationTV.org. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the "Voice of Transportation" representing State Departments of Transportation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation. Article Date: 2012-08-27 Source: American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials Copyright(C) 2012 Associated Equipment Distributors. All Rights Reserved. | ||||||
