Subcontractors USA Journal 54

SUBCONTRACTORS

USA

TEXAS JOURNAL

W W W . S U B C U S A . C O M

Architecture | Construction | Education | Energy | Engineering | Legal | IT | Manufacturing | Oil and Gas | Petrochemical | Transportation

September 2020 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 54th Edition

In Times of Crisis, Leaders Lead and NAMC Has Chosen to Lead!

LEFT TO RIGHT: Roque Campos - Vice Chair, Greg Williams – Board Member, Heather Kelly - Board Secretary, Maribel Rodriguez – Board Member, John Bowles - Board Member, Ruben Mercado - Board Chair, JG Hollings - Board Member, Carol MacNeil - Board Treasurer, Jorge Mancilla - Board Member, Roger Pombrol - Exec. Vice Chair, and Hemendra Patel - Board Member. Not pictured: Board Members Ben Hernandez and Monica Lamb

16-17

INSIDE

08

Constance Jones Joins National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)

30

Bright Spots for Port Houston Cargo COVID-19 Impact Still Felt

26

Is An “It’s the City” Problem Holding Up Your Permit?

2 | September 2020

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MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR

As one of the nation’s largest commercial builders, Turner is dedicated to providing avenues of opportunity for Minority- and Woman-Owned Businesses in Houston to achieve entrepreneurial success.

Our commitment to social responsibility and fair play is not just on paper; it is ingrained in our corporate culture. We are devoted to making sure the contributions that strengthen the local economy reflect the demographics of the community at large.

w w w. t u r n e rc o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m

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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Keith J. Davis, Sr. CERTIFIED:

HMSDC

The Subcontractors USA Texas Journal highlights opportunities and news relevant to the construction, energy, architecture, manufacturing, education, engineering, oil and gas, transportation and IT industries we serve. We hope you find this issue not only informative, but inspiring and educational as well.

This month’s issue highlights the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) - Houston. NAMC’s vision is to prepare and position deserving minority and female-owned businesses to win contracts, increase branding visPort of Houston

Metro

BEHIND THE JOURNAL PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Helen Callier Subcontractors USA News Provider

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”

— John D. Rockefeller

City of Houston

ibility and to expand their client base through relationship development opportunities. The Board of the Houston chapter of NAMC is working hard for their members by sharing opportunities and guiding them to success.

As always, thank you for your continued support of Subcontractors USA Texas Journal. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work.

Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

HISD

Times: “You have to start with justice” 06 CONSTRUCTION

06 How Advanced Construction Accounting Technology Can Help Contractors Recover From COVID-19 08 DALLAS

08 The Dallas Economic Recovery Task Force Launches “Dallas Forward” Website to Assist Small and Medium-Sized Businesses 08 ANNOUNCEMENTS

08 Constance Jones Joins National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)

16-17 COVER STORY

16-17 In Times of Crisis, Leaders Lead and NAMC Has Chosen to Lead!

20 OIL AND GAS

20 New Poll Shows Majority of Texas Voters Support Oil and Natural Gas Industry 22 Working Towards A Lower-Carbon Future 26 PERMITS

26 Is An “It’s the City” Problem Holding Up Your Permit?

28 SAFETY

10 ENGINEERING

10 Fluor Corporation Chemicals Project Named Project of the Year by Engineering News-Record 12 IT & TECHNOLOGY

12 Why unbiased AI is essential to building a better working world

28 Before Digging Under Your Property: Call 811 30 TRANSPORTATION

30 Bright Spots for Port Houston Cargo COVID-19 Impact Still Felt 30 SAMCo Hosts 2020 State of Transit to Highlight Path of Resiliency to Recovery 30 Carol Wise Receives 2020 DBJ Women in Business Award

DBE

ADVERTISING | MARKETING MEDIA | COMMUNICATION

14 LEGAL

14 Cities, OSHA crack down on COVID-19 jobsite violations 18 Factors to Consider When Deciding to Terminate for Default

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CONTENTS 04 ARCHITECTURE 04 Architecture in Turbulent

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ARCHITECTURE

Architecture in Turbulent Times:

“YOU HAVE TO START WITH JUSTICE”

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he built environment is meant to reflect who we are.

When architects discuss ways to secure a more just future for the profession, “equity,” “diversity” and “inclusion” are all vitally important words – but ultimately, they are just words. When it comes to truly shifting the demographics of architecture, a profession where Black Americans in particular are still underrepresented, larger systemic changes need to be implemented at every step of the process, from career awareness, education and culture, to firm succession planning.

“It’s now or never to have this conversation,” said Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA, director of global diversity of Perkins and Will. On August 12 Bullock participated in a panel discussion titled “The State of Equity in Architecture” during AIA’s one-day virtual event Architecture in Turbulent Times: Equity, Environment, Health, & Economy. During a 45-minute discussion, Bullock, along with Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, director of justice, equity, diversity & inclusion at HKS, and Tamarah Begay, AIA, principal-in-charge of Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture, emphasized the challenges to their success, and the success of women and architects of color more generally, posed by a historically white male profession.

All three women shared a commonality in why they wanted to become architects in the first place: to build a connection between those that experience the built environment and those that create it.

Speaking as one of 478 Black female architects currently licensed in the country, Bullock said that she knew she wanted to be an architect from the age of 12 because she “saw and felt the inequity in how people of color, particularly Black people, lived.”

“It was a real response to public housing [projects] and how awful they were, and how they didn’t do anything to uplift people of color,” she said.

Santos Rivera had similar negative experiences with the built environment while in college in her native Puerto Rico.

“It was very much my experience that led me to archi-

tecture,” she said. “I hated the non-contextual spaces I studied in. So I wanted to have an opportunity to create spaces for people to belong.”

In addressing the lack of diversity in architecture, Bullock said, “This is a humanity issue. This is not just a racism issue that black people or people of color need to solve. It is impacting all of us, and I think what got us here is a very narrow view of what design is and how to impact the built environment.”

All three women agreed that architects must adequately represent the communities that they serve, especially in a nation that is growing increasingly diverse. “If we can’t be of the community, then we have to research to become culturally competent, or partner with individuals in our industry to help get there. We have to turn everything on its head, we have to change the status quo if we’re going to advance the profession and be more inclusive,” Bullock said. And, as Santos Rivera pointed out, it needs to start with education.

Addressing education and succession One of the clearest and most obvious ways to diversify the profession, of course, is to address the issue of who gets to attend architecture school, which often comes with a hefty price tag. According to NCARB, racial and ethnic diversity continues to improve in the early career stages of architecture, with 45 percent of new AXP participants and 33 percent of new exam candidates identifying as non-white in 2017.

“We learned in a very Eurocentric way, we practice in a very Eurocentric way,” Bullock said. Without professors of color and a change in curriculum to represent the full spectrum of cultures in America, she emphasized, design schools won’t be able to fully embrace the diversity of their students in a meaningful way, even if numbers of diverse students do increase.

When it comes to ethnic, cultural and gender diversity in firm leadership, the numbers largely remain stagnant. A major factor in these stubborn statistics is the lack of opportunities for advancement that many women and people of color face when trying to move past the beginning stages of their architecture careers.

Firms who are able to be honest and transparent about the diversity gaps within their ranks will better be able to address the issues head-on.

“A lot of things, much more than at any other time, are allowing us to see the system,” Santos Rivera said. “The system that builds onto itself, that creates the outcomes that we see today.”

This corroborates with Begay’s experience of attempting to earn the title of principal at her first place of employment. She emphasizes that employing a diverse group of staff should be more about making a difference rather than checking a box or filling a quota to improve the firm’s statistics. She says that despite being very vocal at her then-firm, she was not receiving the right opportunities for advancement, which spurred her to leave and found her own business.

“It’s about giving ‘minority’ people opportunities and not just putting them behind the computer and having them do CAD drawings,” she said.

Using Metrics to Benchmark Progress Unless the problem is fully acknowledged, it can’t be addressed, say Bullock, Begay and Santos Rivera.

“When you say you don’t see color, the reality, how it feels, is that you don’t see me,” Santos Rivera said.

All three women recommend several tools to use when assessing justice and equity within your firm or organization: the JUST Label, the UN Global Compact, and SEED, among others. These tools require firms to look at the current state of diversity in their workforce, assess their baseline, set goals for the future and, most importantly, be transparent about the process.

“Diversity and inclusion have been openly discussed, but race has not been,” Bullock said. “It has been a messy and uncomfortable topic to discuss until now. It’s still uncomfortable, but we must discuss it because it has real impact on how we design.”

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Source: AIA

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CONSTRUCTION

How Advanced Construction Accounting Technology Can Help Contractors Recover From COVID-19

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

F

rom the loss of lives to the economic downturn, COVID-19 has shaken the global economy.

Just like any other service sector or industry, it has been severely destructive to the construction industry. The impacts of COVID-19 persists. Although saving lives and preventing the spread of the contagion is the primary concern of federal authorities, loss of projects and jobs requires a serious revival plan for construction that includes technology.

Construction accounting software is one technology that could help contractors weather the economic downturn and sustain their business.

HowConstruction ConstructionAccounting How Accounting Can Help Can Help The cloud and business intelligence has helped streamline construction. This means the present-day construction accounting software is no longer restricted to sheets and unorganized data.

Many accounting software packages can handle Project Management, Enterprise Resource Planning and Customer Relationship Management. The data

generated can justify project delays to contracting officers or project owners due to the pandemic. Accounting software can also track resources and data needed to access federal funds and meet the requirements for qualifying for CARES Act funding, loans or tax relief.

Technology Technologyagainst againstthe the Economic EconomicBattle Battleand andLiabilities Liabilities Since most construction companies are susceptible to liability challenges from delayed deliveries, software can generate project data such as labor and project costs to justify claims to benefits under laws, such as force majeure provisions or insurance or liability claims.

ProjectManagement Management Project One of the most significant aspects of a construction business is having the upper hand with Project Management tools.

Construction project management software helps contractors streamline tasks, even with limited resources. Using project management techniques, such as custom software based on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, will help keep projects organized from start to finish. Users can track project progress as well as cost

CRM CRMPractices Practices

categories based on labor, materials and equipment. This information assists in future job forecasting.

ERP ERPSupport Support Construction companies can streamline data and records in construction accounting Enterprise Resource Planning software in order to offset liabilities and payroll taxes. Moreover, the software can help struggling firms manage operations during COVID-19 with support on recovery efforts and planning and finding ways to sustain or restart halted projects. If the present or post COVID-19 situation is considered, contractors can quickly create resources for labor and equipment, regarding special costs for different projects. The control of human resources and material management makes it easier to restructure tasks accordingly without breaking the continuity and hold up deliveries.

Customer Relationship Management can help sustain a business during a crisis. SaaS-based construction accounting software can be programmed to serve every process related to client engagement, such as tracking expenses on each project. Watching jobs and tasks closely makes it easier for contractors to interact with stakeholders and reduces the chances of clashes among stakeholders and the construction firm when an emergency, like the COVID-19 pandemic, leads to the suspension of the project.

TheCrux Crux The The spread of COVID-19 has caused setbacks for even construction giants, but technology could be the boon that brings construction firms back stronger than ever as contractors routinely map losses, risk and opportunities. Futuristic construction accounting technology will not only help improve trends related to project progress but also build harmony between construction companies and project owners.

Source: Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Houston

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DALLAS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Constance

Jones Joins

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Dear NMSDC Network,

The Dallas Economic Recovery Task Force Launches “Dallas Forward” Website to Assist Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

R

ichard Fisher and Fred Perpall Co-Chair Coalition Leading Dallas Companies Donate Supplies, Funds, and Resources The Dallas Economic Recovery Task Force, created at the request of Mayor Eric Johnson, announced today the blueprint for Dallas Forward, an initiative to advance short-term recovery and drive long-term inclusive growth in Dallas, and the launch of DallasForward.org, a resource hub to provide immediate relief for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

The coalition is co-chaired by Richard Fisher, former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Fred Perpall, CEO of The Beck Group and Chairman of the Dallas Citizens Council.

“Our business community and the City of Dallas both recognize that restoring our vibrant and thriving small and medium-sized business ecosystem is the key to our economic recovery from COVID-19,” Mayor Eric Johnson said. “I am thrilled that the Dallas Economic Recovery Task Force has stepped up to provide necessary resources and guidance to help our employers and workers solve the unprecedented challenges they face during this ongoing pandemic. We hope more business partners will join us in this recovery effort.”

The task force is immediately focused on supporting Dallas’ SMBs, which make up approximately 50% of the local economy and have been significantly impacted by the spread of COVID-19. The portal, www.DallasForward.org, will include access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies, grant and loan applications, re-opening playbooks, and personalized assistance and mentorship resources provided through donations from some of the leading businesses in Dallas.

“For the SMB sector to rebound and then prosper after the COVID-19 setback, advice and financial help is urgently required,” said Fisher. “More than 70% of at-risk SMB jobs in Dallas are held by people of color.

We must ensure a future for our city where diverse people benefit from our strong economy.”

Several leading Dallas companies have contributed to Dallas Forward including AT&T, PepsiCo, Arcosa, Inc., The Beck Group, Corinth Properties, Mary Kay, Oncor, JLL, Jacobs, Vistra Energy, Ben E. Keith, Texas Health Resources, Toyota, Dallas Foundation, and

other companies who are joining the effort each day.

“Dallas’ business community has personified equity with the largest companies playing an integral role in investing in the future of SMBs,” said Perpall. “As we emerge from this health crisis, we want to re-double our efforts and resources to help as many companies not only survive but thrive. The cornerstone of our work is to make sure we are part of building a future Dallas where all our citizens have the opportunity to prosper.”

As part of the initiative, Dallas Forward is building partnerships and championing existing resources within the community, including support of the Revive Dallas Small Business Relief Fund – a collaboration with The Dallas Entrepreneur Network (The DEC Network), Communities Foundation of Texas, and the LiftFund – and partnering with Dallas College and Dallas Builds, which recently launched to provide mentoring resources to small business leaders.

“Small and medium-sized businesses have been especially hit hard by this pandemic,” said Antonio Carrillo, President and CEO of Arcosa, Inc., which donated PPE to Dallas Forward. “Dallas Forward provides much needed workplace resources and financial relief to the SMBs that substantially contribute to our local economy.”

In addition to the immediate focus on SMBs, Dallas Forward aims to restore the public’s confidence to reengage in the economy. When immediate needs have been met, the coalition envisions a future return to growth for the region through infrastructure investments like shovelready projects and education to create jobs and attract businesses.

For more information about Dallas Forward or to request access to the SMB resource portal, please visit, www.DallasForward.org.

AboutDallas DallasForward Forward About Dallas Forward is an initiative launched by the Dallas Economic Recovery Task Force – created at the request of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson – following the COVID-19 outbreak and is cochaired by Richard Fisher and Fred Perpall. Dallas Forward assists small and medium-sized businesses who comprise approximately 50% of our local economy and strives to address the short-term economic recovery, while promoting inclusive, long-term prosperity. For more information, visit www.DallasForward.org.

I'm pleased to announce that effective August 17, Constance Yvonne Jones, will be working with NMSDC to help strengthen our Network Delivery Services Operations. As we've quickly learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, our mission to advocate for our certified minority businesses is more critical now than ever before.

Constance most recently served as Vice President of Operations for the Houston MSDC where she served more than 600 MBEs. Constance has dedicated her life to helping entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs build successful and thriving businesses.

On a National perspective, Constance has been a member of the Certification Task Force since its inception and was recently appointed as the Certification Team Lead for the West. It’s a job she takes seriously and one that allows her to play a pivotal role in building better businesses.

She participates in several different organizations outside of HMSDC in order to promote minority businesses. She has volunteered with the Houston Minority Business Development Center, United States Small Business Administration, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Houston Area Urban League and Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce.

Her hard work has not gone unrecognized.

She is a recipient of the YMCA Young Minority Achiever Award, 2018 Top 30 Influential Women of Houston, recently nominated as a 2020 Woman of Business for the Houston Business Journal. Constance is the recipient of several additional awards and honors.

Please help us welcome Constance to her new role as Senior Director of Network Delivery Services with the NMSDC Leadership Team!

Sending You the Best, Adrienne C. Trimble President and CEO NMSDC

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ENGINEERING

Fluor Corporation

Chemicals Project Named Project of the Year by Engineering News-Record

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

F

luor Corporation announced today that MEGlobal’s worldscale 750,000 metric-ton-perannum monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol facility built in Oyster Creek, Texas, was named Energy/Industrial Project of the Year for the Texas and Louisiana region by Engineering News-Record (ENR).

Fluor ser ved as construction contractor on the project which began operations in October 2019 and marked the first time that MEGlobal’s parent company, the EQUATE Petrochemical Group, constructed a new et hylene glycol facility in the United States. The project was completed safely, ahead of schedule and under budget.

“Congratulations to our client MEGlobal and the project team for this well-deserved industry recognition,” said Mark Fields, president of Fluor’s Energy and Chemicals business. “Because of your tireless efforts, together we were able to deliver this world-class project safely, ahead of schedule and under budget – no small feat for a project of this size and complexity.”

“This was an outstanding project in every sense and we are incredibly proud to be recognized for the teamwork, safety commitment and operational excellence demonstrated by the entire team,” said Clarence Stadlwieser, MEGlobal project director.

The project, along with other eligible entries, was reviewed by an independ-

ent panel and judged based upon the following criteria: overcoming challenges and teamwork, safety, innovation and contribution to the industry/ community, construction quality and craftsmanship, and functionality of design and aesthetic quality. It was one of just 18 selected from more than 130 submissions.

The winners of ENR’s Best Project Awards will be celebrated at a ceremony in Houston on October 23.

About Fluor Fluor Corporation Corporation About Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) is a global engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction and maintenance company with projects and offices on six continents. Fluor’s 47,000 employees build a better world by designing, constructing and maintaining safe, well-executed, capital-efficient projects.

Fluor is ranked 181 among the Fortune 500 companies. With headquarters in Irving, Texas, Fluor has served its clients for more than 100 years. For more information, please visit www.fluor.com or follow Fluor on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Source: Fluor

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IT & TECHNOLOGY

Why unbiased

AI is essential to building a better working world the importance that policymakers and the public are placing on bias, and are failing to identify, assess, and manage risks arising from the use of potentially discriminatory algorithms. Consequently, companies may be developing products and services that will generate little traction in the market, as they are poorly aligned to emerging values, preferences, and regulatory guidance.

These risks require active mitigation beyond moratoria, and recent corporate actions suggest the gaps may be closing. Companies should consider going further by exposing both their models and governance frameworks to broader scrutiny, such as external independent auditors or even the general public. A close examination of model training data is also necessary, as bias can seep in inadvertently. For example, while excluding observations describing race or ethnicity might appear to eliminate the risk of bias, if the real world is segregated by post code, then one’s address can reveal sensitive characteristics, and generate biased outcomes despite good intentions.

Businesses must consider the unintended consequences for society, not just achieving technical accuracy. Pandemics historically are associated with racism, xenophobia, and class conflict. Haphazard deployment of discriminatory algorithms may worsen a tragic situation.

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

I

t’s crucial for the long-term development of AI that the technology is perceived as fair. Otherwise, trust in AI may be lost for a generation.

The COVID-19 crisis placed unprecedented strain on social contracts around the world. The pandemic’s disproportionate impact on minority and underprivileged communities, both in terms of health and economic costs, has exposed systemic inequalities along racial and ethnic lines in many societies.

Public anger is rightfully directed at the status quo, creating near-term risks for companies navigating this volatile social climate. Amid the global Black Lives Matter protests, businesses are being forced to reassess their social responsibilities, including ensuring the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is fair and unbiased.

IBM recently announced that it will no longer offer facial recognition or surveillance technology due to concerns over bias, for example. Microsoft and others have placed a moratorium on facial recognition collaborations with law enforcement agencies. This is not only demonstrating ethical leadership, but also astute risk management.

Addressingthe theblind blindspot spot of of algorithmic algorithmic bias Addressing Algorithmic bias refers to repeated and systematic errors in a computerized system that generates unfair outcomes, including favouring one group over another.

Bias can derive from a range of factors, such as the design of the algorithm, the “training data” used as inputs, or via unanticipated applications, among others.

EY’s survey in conjunction with The Future Society “Bridging AI’s trust gaps” (pdf) completed in late 2019, just before the arrival of the novel coronavirus, asked policymakers and companies to prioritize ethical principles across a range of AI use cases. The results highlight the biggest divergence in ethical priorities between companies and policymakers across applications concerned

Keyconsiderations considerationsfor forthe the Key development of unbiased development of unbiased AIAI the principle of fairness and avoiding bias. Further, we specifically asked companies and policymakers about two topical use cases, facial recognition and surveillance.

The chart below shows the ten biggest gaps in ethical priorities between policymakers and companies out of more than 100 measured in total across the survey.

Four of the ten largest concern the principle of fairness and avoiding bias (highlighted in grey). The gap around bias for surveillance and facial recognition applications, particularly relevant in the post COVID-19 world, represent the fourth and fifth biggest in the entire data set.

The data indicates many companies do not appreciate

• How do you design an AI system that is unbiased if our societies are systemically and institutionally biased?

• What are the implications for our society if companies deploy biased algorithms into a world already rife with discrimination?

• How can we ensure emerging technologies are not deployed unfairly against vulnerable groups?

• What steps should companies take to minimize the risk of algorithmic bias?

• What rights should a victim of algorithmic discrimination have to redress unfairness?

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Source: EY

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LEGAL

Cities, OSHA crack down on COVID-19 jobsite violations have community transmission. So we’re going to double down on that work.”

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

A

s the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge across some parts of the country, jurisdictions are cracking down on construction firms that don’t follow jobsite guidelines for social distancing, handwashing and other coronavirus-related precautions.

Many areas have given 30-day grace periods as businesses learned about the new rules, but now some building departments have indicated the time for leniency is over. In places like New York City, Austin, Texas, and Montgomery County, Maryland outside of Washington, D.C., officials spoke out last week to put noncomplying contractors on notice.

Austin said it will take employers to court if they have several violations of the city’s emergency rules and will issue fines of up to $2,000. The construction industry in Austin has been among the businesses reporting the most COVID-19 outbreaks, with six clusters since June 25.

In Maryland, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said officials will begin visiting construction sites that are not obeying mask policies.

The county will first issue a warning, then begin closing construction sites that do not comply, he said during a news briefing last week.

The crackdown is part of an effort to mitigate the spread of the virus among Montgomery County’s large Latino population, many who work in construction.

“We’re going to shut down construction sites where people aren’t working safely. Because these folks, if they’re exposed to the coronavirus, they’re bringing it back to their community,” Elrich said. “They often live in the more crowded housing in the county. So anything that comes back to those communities is more likely to

Public Publicwatch watch Members of the public are helping officials to spot infringements on construction sites. Since March 30, New York City residents lodged 6,127 complaints against contractors for potential COVID-19 jobsite safety protocol violations, using the city’s nonemergency 311 phone system. According to Austin city officials, there have been more than 150 calls made to 311 regarding construction sites since the beginning of April.

Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden told KXAN that if there are multiple 311 calls about one place or person, the city will first try to get the site or person to voluntarily make changes and follow the rules.

“Initially our goal is to get voluntary compliance. That is our hope for everyone,” she said. “In the event things are not implemented, we will move forward and provide a citation to them and take those individuals to court.”

Elrich said alone the health department received 70 photos from residents showing apparent noncompliance at local businesses, noting that the county has already shut down restaurants and will do the same for offending construction sites.

OSHAcitation citation OSHA In Nevada, on June 23, OSHA officials fined the joint venture in charge of construction at the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium for a “serious” coronavirus-related violation. The $13,494 fine relates to two incidents in April regarding a lack of social distancing and included 35 photos detailing various employees working in close proximity to each other and in line to get their temperatures taken, according to the Las Vegas ReviewJournal. Dozens of workers at the site have been infected with COVID-19 since March.

OSHA noted employees at the site were not abiding by the 6-feet-minimum social-distancing requirement, noting that two 65-foot boom lifts were operating, each of which had three men per basket in violation of the two-person-per-basket regulation. The fine is the maximum penalty for a serious OSHA violation. Repeat violators can face a fine of $134,937 for each violation.

The JV denied the offense, saying in a statement that it is committed to complying with all health and safety regulations.

“Our team has actively communicated and diligently enforced evolving Nevada OSHA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements with our project partners and up to 2,000 workers on site each day,” it reads. “Our team has continued to make changes and adjustments as needed or identified in an effort to protect everyone on the project.”

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Source: Construction Dive

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INTIMES TIMES OF CRISIS IN OF CR leaders lead and NAMC

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he National Association of Minority Contractors Greater Houston Chapter has a mission to prepare and position deserving minority and female-owned businesses to win contracts, increase branding visibility and expand their client base through relationship development opportunities, and their efforts to complete this mission have not waivered despite the global COVID-19 pandemic.

NAMC Houston has gone 100% virtual in all their communication methods. Since March, they have created and sent out over 15 webinars and now conduct all meetings on Microsoft Teams platform. With tech help from MCA Communications, NAMC Houston was able to pivot to 100% virtual in just two weeks. Some of their virtual feats

include spotlighting four of their major corporate sponsors through a Microsoft Teams presentation to members and “lunch and learn” segments conducted by Roger Pombrel, NAMC Houston Education Chair.

They have adapted extremely well through this COVID-19 pandemic and have actually been able to improve communication efforts.

“We no longer have to rush through traffic to get to our meeting and presentation on time and can attend several virtual presentations in a day,” NAMC Houston Executive Director Abel Garcia said. “We also have almost 100% attendance at all our NAMC meetings.”

Membership growth is also exploding. From an impressive 50% in new membership increase in 2019, NAMC Houston will match that number by the end of September 2020 and expect around a 40% 2020 increase in new membership in 2020 over 2019.

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“

“

The amount of construction is so great in the Greater Houston market that we need to continue to grow our minority crafts and companies to stay up with that 2020 and beyond growth,” Garcia said.

“Small companies need the advocation, education and business opportunities NAMC brings to the table to be a growing service to that minority sector.

FROM - Boa Boar

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S, RISIS, C has chosen to Lead!

MC

M LEFT TO RIGHT: Greg Williams - Board Member, Abel Garcia – Executive Director, Maribel Rodriguez ard Member, Ruben Mercado - Board Chair, Johnny G. Hollings - Board Member, Carol MacNeil rd Treasurer, and Roger Pombrol - Exec. Vice Chair

Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr. As CEO of Subcontractors USA-TEXAS, I am excited about our continued partnership with NAMC Houston. The Board and Executive Director of NAMC Houston have consistently grown the organization through their leadership and advocacy for minority contractors.

“The amount of construction is so great in the Greater Houston market that we need to continue to grow our minority crafts and companies to stay up with that 2020 and beyond growth,” Garcia said. “Small companies need the advocation, education and business opportunities NAMC brings to the table to be a growing service to that minority sector.”

NAMC Houston plans to bring the Biggest Event in Construction in 2020.

“NAMC and construction will bring Houston back to recovery via our ‘Day of the Construction Worker 2020 Event’,” Garcia said. “By conducting and filming an eightweek tour showcasing eight to 10 construction job site visits, they can spotlight and show thanks to Construction men and women. We can also share with Houston how these billions of dollars have thousands of men, women and suppliers contributing to our improving economy.”

Garcia says NAMC Houston wants to be that “positive oasis in the middle of all this desert of sad COVID-19 pandemic news.” Construction has always played an important role of getting Houston back up on its feet disaster after disaster and this pandemic is no different.

“We want our unique ‘strong and can-do’ Houston back again,” Garcia said. “To NAMC that is the most important thing we can do for our construction men and women, industry and our great city of Houston!”

For more info, visit namctexas.org

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Factors to Consider LEGAL

When Deciding to Terminate for Default

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

A

general contractor’s young project engineer, frustrated with an underperforming subcontractor, asked an old superintendent why the company would not simply terminate the substandard subcontractor and hire another subcontractor to complete the work.

The superintendent responded that if the company terminated that subcontractor and every other problematic subcontractor, eventually there would be no more subcontractors to work with. It seems like a simple answer, but owners, general contractors, and higher tier subcontractors often struggle with the decision to exercise their contractual right to terminate a lower tier entity for its inability to perform. This is often a difficult decision with no clear cut answer. The decision maker must consider several factors such as the ability to find a qualified replacement contractor/subcontractor; time and cost impacts; potential damage to the company’s reputation; and the uncertainty of heightened stakes. If the decision maker is involved in the day to day of the project, emotions may compromise the objectivity and integrity of the decision resulting in a detrimental impact to the project, the cost to complete, the ability to procure future work, and liability for the terminated party’s damages. Like the superintendent’s response to the project engineer, it is often best to play the long game, to leave emotions out of the decision to the extent possible, and to be sure that the decision to terminate is based on the proper criteria sufficient to survive the likely resulting litigation.

This article discusses a recent Court of Federal Claims decision in Alutiiq Mfg. Contractors, LLC v. United States where the Court analyzed the Government’s Contracting Officer’s (CO) decision to terminate a Contractor for default and ultimately held that the CO’s decision was wrong. Although this case pertains to the Federal Government and related Federal Acquisition Regulations, owners, general contractors, and higher tier subcontractors on private or public projects can take away some lesson from the Court’s analysis that may prove useful the next time they grapple with the decision to terminate an underperforming party for default.

The Project in the Alutiiq case was a classic problem project from the start.

There were no innocent parties, and all lost in the end. Personalities clashed, several unresolved issues festered, snowballed, and concluded with the CO terminating the Contractor for default – resulting in the time-critical runway project completing more than a year late.

The Contractor struggled and delayed the Project from the outset by understaffing

the project with incompetent management; failing to timely submit an acceptable CQC plan six times; failing to submit routine documents required by the contract; and, most importantly from the CO’s perspective, failing to find an asphalt supplier to provide asphalt conforming to the specifications. After the second cure notice, the contractor brought in better management, submitted a recovery schedule, and made modest strides in providing compliant asphalt. The CO decided the improvement was too little, too late and terminated the Contractor for default.

The Contractor’s problems seem typical of a Contractor spread too thin and in over its head. At first glance, the CO’s decision seems reasonable. But, the CO’s bias, wrongful actions, and failure to adequately justify his decision to terminate the Contractor for default ultimately proved fatal and the Court converted the termination to termination for convenience of the government.

Under Federal contract law, terminations for default are upheld if the court finds that the CO reasonably concluded that there was not a reasonable likelihood that the contractor could complete the project on time. There must be tangible, direct evidence reflecting the contractor’s inability to achieve timely completion.

The Court’s analysis focuses on events, actions, and communications between the parties. Some courts compare the percentage of work completed and the amount of time remaining under the contract, the contractor’s failure to meet milestones, problems with subcontractors and suppliers, the contractor’s financial situation, performance history, and other pertinent circumstances surrounding the CO’s decision. These are factors every party should consider and document to support a decision to terminate an underperforming party.

Ultimately the Court found that the CO unreasonably concluded that the Contractor was unable to complete the project on time. The CO relied on an analysis of the baseline schedule instead of an adequate analysis of the recovery schedule; did not include an analysis of excusable delays; did not consider the urgent need for the runway and the amount of time it would take to procure a replacement contractor, or whether that contractor would complete the project at least as soon as the terminated contractor. The government also ignored improvement in the performance of the replacement personnel and the contractor’s ability to provide conforming asphalt. The Court

found that the “CO’s hostility towards the contractor and history of dishonesty undercut the [the government’s] ability to form an independent and reasonable belief regarding the contractor’s ability to complete the contract on time.”

Conclusion In litigation or arbitration, the analysis will focus not only on the shortcomings of the underperforming party, but also on the actions of the terminating party and the factors that that party considered in

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deciding to terminate a contract.

This opinion highlights the importance of objectively evaluating the likelihood and the ability of an underperforming party to improve its performance. While such evaluation should on some level be rooted in the past, parties should also carefully consider the merits and feasibility of the recovery plan. Perhaps the most important lesson an owner, contractor, and higher tier subcontractor can take away from this case is to be deliberate in administering the contract, help struggling parties where possible, and do not let their personal frustrations impact their decision to terminate a party for default. The decision has to make sense from the perspective of a reasonable third-party. Mistakes in this area can expose a company to significant liability often well beyond the costs of assisting a struggling party across the finish line.

Readers should not take or refrain from taking any action based on any information without first seeking legal advice.

Source: Associate General Contractor

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OIL AND GAS

New Poll Shows Majority of Texas Voters Support

Oil and Natural Gas Industry

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he American Petroleum Institute released new polling conducted by Morning Consult showing seven in 10 Texas voters would be more likely to vote for candidates who support access to natural gas and oil produced in the U.S. The polling also shows an overwhelming majority of Texas voters value American energy security and affordability and believe it is important for the U.S. not to rely on foreign energy sources.

“Texans know that the oil and natural gas industry anchors our economy and directly funds our roads, schools, emergency services and our Rainy Day Fund,” Texas Oil and Gas Association President Todd Staples said. “The industry also leads the way in environmental progress, investing billions and implementing real solutions to protect and improve the environment. Any plan that seeks to undermine this industry will set back climate progress, put workers out of jobs and decrease funding for our state and local governments. When they step in the ballot box in November, voters should look closely at candidates’ policies and consider the consequences of policies that seek to undermine this industry and Texas’ economic and energy security.”

“As we approach the election, it is clear a majority of Texas voters know and support the critical role the natural gas and oil industry plays in driving the economic recovery, keeping energy costs low and protecting national security,” API President and CEO Mike Sommers said.

“U.S. energy leadership has been a priority of every one of

our last seven presidents, Democrat and Republican – a trend this polling shows Texas voters want to see continue.

Proposals to ban U.S. energy production are out of step with bipartisan support for an all-of-the-above energy approach and would set America back by returning us to the days of relying on foreign energy.”

A new analysis prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) outlines how the U.S. natural gas and oil industry is a key economic driver in Texas, supporting over three million jobs and contributing nearly $529 billion to the state’s economy in 2018.

Polling Summary: • Seven in ten Texas voters, including a majority of both Democrats (56 percent) and Independents (66 percent), would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports access to oil and gas

produced in the U.S. • 94 percent of voters believe it is important to keep energy and gasoline prices affordable.

• 94 percent of voters believe it is important to produce enough energy so the U.S. is not as reliant on other countries for oil.

• 83 percent of respondents support congressional action to invest in energy infrastructure to increase the production and distribution of domestic energy.

• 70 percent of Independent voters think natural gas and oil will be a significant part of America’s energy needs 20 years from now.

• 74 percent of voters in Texas, including 65 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Independents, believe the natural gas and oil industry will have an important role in helping the economy recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

• 86 percent of respondents think natural gas and oil provide a value to their life.

• 72 percent of voters agree that our country’s national security has increased because America is producing more natural gas and oil.

Methodology: The poll, by Morning Consult, was conducted between June 26-30, 2020 among a sample of 798 Texas Registered voters.

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Source: Texas Oil and Gas Association

September 2020 | 21

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22 | September 2020

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OIL AND GAS

Working Towards A Lower-Carbon Future

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

E

xxonMobil has joined other energy industry leaders in supporting society’s global transition to a lower-carbon world. Oil and Gas Climate Initiative’s member companies have set a target to reduce by 2025 the collective average carbon intensity of member’s aggregated upstream oil and gas operations. The target is consistent with OGCI’s support of the Paris Agreement goals.

Each member company is implementing a range of measures in their operations, including improving energy effi-

ciency, reducing methane emissions and minimizing flaring, among other efforts.

ExxonMobil has taken a leadership role in methane emission-reduction efforts, proposing a methane emissions framework for industry-wide methane regulations, and urging stakeholders, policymakers and governments to develop comprehensive, enhanced rules to reduce emissions in all phases of production.

We remain on track to meet our commitment to reduce flaring by 25 percent and methane emissions company-wide by 15 percent by the end of this year, compared to 2016 levels.

Source: ExxonMobil

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Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work Following these simple steps will help you properly put on and take off your Following these simple stepseveryone will help you respirator, and keep you and elseproperly safe. put on and take off your respirator, and keep you and everyone else safe.

Wash Your Hands ➊➊ Wash Your Hands

WashWash your your hands withwith soapsoap andand water or alcohol-based hand rubs hands water or alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol. containing at least 60% alcohol.

Inspect the Respirator ➋ ➋ Inspect the Respirator

Inspect damage.IfIfititappears appearsdamaged damagedorordamp, damp, Inspectthe therespirator respirator for for damage. do not use it. do not use it.

Put ononthe Put theRespirator Respirator ➌➌

Cuprespirator the respirator in your hand Cup the in your hand with the nosepiece at your with the nosepiece at your fingertips and the straps hanging fingertips and the straps hanging below your hand. below your hand.

Cover your mouth and nosewith with Cover your mouth and nose the respirator and make sure there the respirator and make sure there are no gaps (e.g., facial hair, hair, are no gaps (e.g., facial hair, hair, and glasses) between your face and and glasses) between your face and the respirator. the respirator.

Adjust the Respirator

Adjust the Respirator ➍➍

Place both hands over the respirator.

Repeat until you get a proper seal.

Inhale quickly and then exhale.

If you If youuntil can'tyou getget a proper seal,seal. try Place both hands over the respirator.

Repeat a proper feel leakage from the nose, readjust another respirator.

Inhale quickly and then exhale. If you If you can't get a proper seal, try the nosepiece; if leakage from the feel leakage from the nose, readjust another respirator. respirator edges, readjust the straps.

the nosepiece; if leakage from the respirator edges, readjust the straps.

➏ Remove the Respirator

➏ Remove the Respirator

Placethe thestrap strap over over your your head Place head and and rest at the top back of your head. rest at the top back of your head.

If you have a second strap, place If you have a second strap, place the bottom strap around your the bottom strap around your neck and below your ears. Do not neck and below your ears. Do not crisscross straps. crisscross straps.

IfIfyour nose yourrespirator respiratorhas hasa metal a metal nose clip, use your fingertips from both clip, use your fingertips from both hands to mold the nose area to the hands to mold the nose area to the shape of your nose.

shape of your nose.

➎ Wear Wear the Respirator ➎ the Respirator

Avoid touching the respirator while usingtouching it. If you do, your hands.

Avoid thewash respirator while

Note: If you reuse your respirator, wearreuse gloves when Note: If you your inspecting putting respirator,and wear glovesonwhen the respirator.and Avoid touching inspecting putting on your face (including your the respirator. Avoid touching eyes, and mouth)your yournose, face (including during the process. eyes, nose, and mouth)

using it. If you do, wash your hands.

during the process.

➐ Dispose of the Respirator

➐ Dispose of the Respirator

For more information, see the quick video, "Putting On and For more Taking Off ainformation, Mask".  see the

quick video, "Putting On and Taking Off a Mask". 

Remove the respirator from behind.

Do not touch the front.

www.osha.gov

If the respirator does not need to be reused because of supply shortages, discard it in a wastedoes receptacle.

Wash your hands.

Ifclosed-bin the respirator not need to be reused

because of supply shortages, discard it in a closed-bin waste receptacle. Wash your hands.

1-800-321-OSHA (6742) TTY 1-877-889-5627

1-800-321-OSHA (6742) TTY 1-877-889-5627

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OSHA 4015-05 2020

Wash your hands.

Remove the respirator from behind.

Do not touch the front.

OSHA 4015-05 2020

Wash your hands.

26 | September 2020

SUBCONTRACTORS USA

PERMITS

Is An “It’s the City” Problem Holding Up Your Permit?

By Helen Callier Contributing Writer

H

ow many times have you said, “It’s the City”… once, twice, or more than a dozen times?

Problems can range from all project files being uploaded into one mygov folder to plans not sealed to sheets stamped as “not for construction” to arguing about the City uses the wrong IBC (International Building Code) to a plethora of other reasons for pointing fingers and blaming the local jurisdiction.

Here is what we know, and do for our clients. It is important to start early with the permitting process to minimize and mitigate as many reasons for delays and rejections as possible once the plans are submitted for permitting. Depending on the type of project i.e. new ground up, major renovation, remodels or major repairs, the early phase of design may differ slightly followed by the pre-construction phase. It is,

at the latest, during the pre-con phase, the best time to review the jurisdiction’s website for the following: • Changes in permitting processes • Confirm building codes • Review design checklist for any deficiencies • Check on required pre-requisite documents

Often, we will receive a call from a contractor, project owner or from an architect saying, “The City is not listening to us and is holding up our permit. Can you help respond to the rejection comments?” We ask, “How long have the plans been at the City?” And after reviewing the notes in the jurisdiction’s online system, we frequently find that there may have been two or three critical rejection comments and once those are addressed all the other comments drop off because they are being caused by the major two or three comments.

With frustrations high, the contractor, project owner or architect says, “Handle it!” because they need the permit like yesterday. We get it; and understand the plan reviewer’s mindset, different cultures across

jurisdictions, latest building codes, best way to address jurisdiction comments and pulling a building permit as quickly as possible.

To assist those in an “It’s the City” problem position right now, below are 5 tips to consider to re-calibrate and to obtain permit in a timely manner.

1. Pull all rejection comments from jurisdictions 2. Review original plan set submitted and mark-up copy of plans based on comments to review with your team 3. Contact Plan Reviewer to schedule a meeting to review in person or by phone 4. Have a positive attitude, and jot down your thoughts of best approach to address comments to review with Plan Reviewer 5. Take notes when meeting with Plan Reviewer and when there is a sticking point, ask if they would consider xyz change or what about this approach to meet code

In In Conclusion Conclusion Most readers who keep up with my monthly column know that I believe in following the basics in permitting. Like in sports (i.e. football, basketball, soccer, etc.), you win the game by mastering the basics. And in permitting covering the basics are the key foundation to pulling permits in a timely manner and minimizing headaches. So, review the five tips above for your simple offensive moves to make sure you are moving in the right direction and eliminating the words “It’s the City” from your vocabulary. That’s it for now. Call us first at 1.844.PERMIT.4 when have questions on building permits. #BuildSafe

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28 | September 2020

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SAFETY

Before Digging Under Your Property: Call 811

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

U

nintentionally tearing into things buried underground is a big deal, one that can affect your home and your neighborhood.

That’s why Texas 811 is such an important resource.

Homeowners, excavators, and contractors are required by law to call 811 at least two days before digging. A caller tells the location of the dig, and affected pipeline and utility companies in the area will send locators to the dig site to mark the approximate location of buried lines with flags or paint.

"The ultimate goal of Texas811is to focus on safety and drive down damage,” said Jamie Renard, the Railroad Commission’s Pipeline Damage Prevention Manager. “A homeowner may not know what’s buried underground.

There could be pipelines, water and sewer lines, electric cables, and other utilities.”

The number of 811 calls has risen considerably. In 2008, there were more than 1.8 million calls, but in 2019, that went up to more than 3.6 million.

The call to 811 is free and invaluable to families and neighbors. Homeowners can also file an online request to locate on the Texas811 website at https://www.texas811.org/.

A free, one-hour online training is also available for interested excavators to learn about the regulatory requirements of the 811 process, which includes requesting underground facility locations, line locator response to your request, incorporating safe excavation practices to avoid damage, fundamental incident investigation techniques, documentation, and reporting. Here is the webinar schedule:

• Every Monday 11 a.m.-noon (to register, click https://register.gotowebinar.com/ rt/3415485945563573518) • Every Tuesday, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. (to register, click https://register.gotowebinar.com/ rt/4597577491773756429) • Every Wednesday, 7 a.m.-8 a.m. (to register, click https://register.gotowebinar.com/ rt/7593514680483569419) • Every Wednesday, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. (to register, click https://register.gotowebinar.com/ rt/8407930639799601423) • Thursdays, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. (to register, click https://register.gotowebinar.com/ rt/1118292794302815756) • Every Friday, 8 a.m.-9 a.m. (to register, click https://register.gotowebinar. com/rt/7713407629287524878) • En Español, every other Thursday, 9 a.m.-a.m. (to register, click https://register. gotowebinar.com/ rt/4474629003347063564)

About Aboutthe theRailroad RailroadCommission Commission

Our mission is to serve Texas by our stewardship of natural resources and the environment, our concern for personal and community safety, and our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans. The Commission has a long and proud history of service to both Texas and to the nation, including almost 100 years regulating the oil and gas industry. The Commission also has jurisdiction over alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines. Established in 1891, the Railroad Commission of Texas is the oldest regulatory agency in the state.

To learn more, please visit http:// www.rrc.texas.gov.

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30 | September 2020

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TRANSPORTATION

Bright Spots

for Port Houston Cargo COVID-19 Impact Still Felt

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

R

ecord gate moves and extra loaders are positive signs this summer at Port Houston. Nevertheless, container twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at the largest container port on the United States Gulf Coast continued showing coronavirus effects and was down 10% in July. Container TEUs for the first seven months of the year is down just 3% compared to 2019, which was a record year. Of note, container activity is up 8% compared to the same time period in 2018, another record year during its time.

Port Houston handled 234,737 TEUs in July of this year, compared to July of 2019, when a total of 259,993 TEUs were handled. For the full year so far, Port Houston has handled 1,662,546 TEUs, compared to 1,721,402 TEUs for the same period in 2019.

Total tonnage at Port Houston for July was down 6%, with steel, breakbulk cargo and autos all down compared to July of last year, although grain and bulk cargo again showed increases, as they did in June.

A recent uptick in activity included two record days for truck transactions at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal in July. “Our team at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal processed more than 4,000 transactions each day, moving this cargo efficiently through our gates and into stores and homes,” Executive Director Roger Guenther said.

Another positive sign, Port Houston received one extra loader in July to handle peak Trans- Pacific vol-

umes and is expecting four more in August. Blank sailings appear to be decreasing in August as well.

“These are bright spots we are hopeful will continue,” said Guenther.

Strict safety protocols to avoid the spread of COVID-19 remain in place at our facilities. Port Houston places the health and safety of its workers first and thanks the men and women working on all the private and public docks, driving trucks in and out of the port, and our other maritime transportation workers, who all support the port’s daily functions.

AboutPort PortHouston Houston About For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals of the greater Port of Houston – the nation’s largest port for the foreign waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. nation. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.35 million jobs in Texas and 3.2 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $339 billion in Texas – 20.6 percent of Texas’ total gross domestic product (GDP) – and total of $801.9 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at PortHouston.com.

Source: www.porthouston.com

TRANSPORTATION

SAMCo Hosts

2020 State of Transit to Highlight Path of Resiliency to Recovery

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

O

n Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, the 2020 State of Transit went virtual. Hosted by VIA Metropolitan Transit and the San Antonio Mobility Coalition (SAMCo), this year’s streaming event focused on VIA’s COVID-19 response and VIA’s plan to keep San Antonio moving, safely and affordably.

VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt and VIA Board Chair Hope Andrade discussed VIA’s work to maintain essential service and highlighted efforts to support workforce recovery, and secure long-term funding for transit in San Antonio.

They explained how VIA is the most under-funded major transit agency in the State of Texas, behind Houston, Dallas, and Austin. VIA’s per capita funding is only $98 compared with Dallas at $249, Austin at $205, and Houston at $161.

The typical VIA rider is part of the local workforce and utilizes VIA five to seven days a week, with 67 percent below a household income of less than $25,000 per year. Most cannot work from home and 58 percent have no motor vehicle in their household. This is especially significant because it reinforces the vital service VIA offers to help meet our community’s need to make connections to jobs, schools, and other essential destinations on which their family’s livelihood depends.

VIA introduced a new initiative, “Keep San Antonio Moving,” which includes seeking the community’s input on their priorities for the future of transit through online surveys and tele-town hall meetings.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioners Court Judge Nelson Wolff also participated in the virtual State of Transit moderated by Jonathan Gurwitz, chairman of the San Antonio Mobility Coalition (SAMCo), and they expressed their support for the agency and its need to secure long-term funding. The City is planning to seek voter approval in November to collect a 1/8th cent sales tax revenue for four years to help cover post-COVID-19 workforce development and economic recovery efforts. Following the four years, the 1/8th cent sales tax revenue would go to VIA if approved by voters in November. That would mean approximately $38.5 million per year. Currently, only half of a one cent sales tax, made available by the Texas State Legislature to support transit, is being used by VIA to fund operations.

The “State of Transit” is part of SAMCo’s transportation leadership series, held in partnership with VIA and event sponsors. SAMCo is a non-profit corporation that advocates for highway, transit, and freight rail funding for the greater San Antonio region. For more than 40 years, VIA has kept San Antonio moving. As we’ve grown and changed with the region, we’ve worked closely with our community to develop plans for a more mobile future.

Source: VIA Metropolitan Transit

TRANSPORTATION

Carol Wise Receives 2020 DBJ Women in Business Award

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

C

arol Wise, Executive Vice-President/Chief Operations Officer at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), has been named a 2020 Women in Business honoree by the Dallas Business Journal.

The prestigious award is given annually to influential women who go above and

beyond in their business and community, and who will continue to impact the business landscape for years to come.

"Carol continues to exemplify for all of us the drive and dedication to serve both our communities across North Texas, as well as the employees here at DART," explained Gary Thomas, President/Executive Director at DART. "Through her leadership and guidance, most especially

Carol has inspired a culture of positive change and innovation that ensures we always place the needs of our customers first."

With more than three decades of transit knowledge, Wise leads the agency's Operations, Bus, Light Rail, Maintenance, Materials Management, Mobility Management and Transit Police departments.

her work on the 5-Star Service Initiative and the Transit Operations Academy,

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Source: DART

September 2020 | 31

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