I recently received a link to a very informative blog post on the Blogineering blog which includes a compilation of 50 separate articles and videos addressing the current state of infrastructure in the United States. It paints a disconcerting portrait of our
Infrastructure Law Blog
Insights on California and national public works construction issues
The Infrastructure Law Blog, published by Hanson Bridgett LLP, focuses on legal issues related to public infrastructure projects and construction law. It covers topics such as public works contractor registration and compliance, prevailing wage enforcement, design-build project delivery methods, public-private partnerships (P3s), and legislative updates affecting infrastructure development. The blog also addresses regulatory changes impacting local agencies and special districts involved in water, wastewater, flood protection, and other public facility projects. Additionally, it discusses claims procedures for public works contracts and innovations in transportation infrastructure, including bicycle safety improvements.
Latest from Infrastructure Law Blog - Page 3
Governor signs SB 972, clarifying design professionals’ duty to defend
Governor Schwarzenegger has now signed SB 972, a new law that clarifies when design professionals will owe a “duty to defend” to public agencies when lawsuits are filed that implicate the services provided by such professionals. The new statute,…
New case delineates boundaries between bidder responsiveness and responsibility
A court of appeal case published on August 31, Great West Contractors, Inc. v. Irvine Unified School District, refined the rules for public agencies evaluating bids submitted for a low-bid contract by clarifying the distinction between bidder responsiveness and bidder responsibility. In…
California Supreme Court opinion regarding applicability of prevailing wages to charter cities still pending
An appellate court case decided in April of 2009 held that public works projects awarded by charter cities, and financed solely from city revenues, were not subject to California prevailing wage requirements under the Prevailing Wage Law. (See State Building…
Sunset date for transit operator design-build statute extended to 2015
On October 11, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law AB 729 (Evans) extending the sunset date on the design-build statute applicable to public transit operators to January 1, 2015. The full text of the bill can be reviewed here. …
New California appellate case expands applicability of False Claims Act
A California appellate case published in late February expands the applicability of the California False Claims Act to contractors which submit applications for payment while failing to comply with material contract terms. (SF Unified School District ex rel. Contreras v. Laidlaw…
Design-build authority for transit operators extended to 2015
On October 11, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law AB 729 (Evans), revising the design-build statute applicable to transit operators. AB 729 extends the authority of public transit operators to use design-build contracting from January 1, 2011 to January 1,…
Santa Clara Gets Help from State Legislature for New 49ers Stadium
A controversial new state law introduced by Sen. Elaine Alquist and approved by the Governor in October 2009 will make it easier for the City of Santa Clara to facilitate construction of a new football stadium for the 49ers. Senate…
Harvard Graduate School of Business and Graduate School of Design hosts symposium on Integrated Project Delivery
On October 22 and 23, 2009, the Harvard Graduate School of Business and Graduate School of Design jointly sponsored a symposium on Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). IPD is a project delivery method where all of the key participants (owner, contractor,…
A Renaissance for Rail? President Obama Releases a New Plan for High-Speed Rail
By Meghan Mead
On April 16, 2009, President Obama unveiled his new High-Speed Rail Strategic Plan. Until this year, rail transportation has received less than three percent of all federal investment in intercity transportation infrastructure and the Northeast has the nation’s…