The Empire State is home to some of the most extensive public infrastructure systems in the country. With sustainability and longevity in mind, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has implemented the use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) on bridge projects across the State. Keeping in line with the State’s mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the agency also recently submitted their National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program Plan this past July.
Ultra-High Performance Concrete
Highlighted as an Innovation of the Month by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the April 2021 edition of the EDC Biweekly Newsletter, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) provides sustainable improvements and increased durability in bridge preservation and repair (P&R).
UHPC is being used nationwide in bridge construction and can be used in place of conventional concrete or repair mortars, and in some cases structural steel.
Repairs using UHPC are more durable and long-lasting than traditional methods. As a result, structures made with UHPC require less maintenance and fewer follow-up repairs. Bridge deck overlays, girder end repairs, expansion joint repairs, PBE construction joint repairs, and column or pile jacketing are a few examples of UHPC P&R applications.
Bridge infrastructure preservation and repair is a new UHPC application that outperforms traditional methods in terms of performance and life-cycle cost.
The FHWA offers an interactive map that displays in-service bridges across the United States that are using UHPC for bridge repairs and construction.
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program was established in November 2021 following the signing of the federal government’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The NEVI program provides funding for the implementation of electric vehicle charging stations in states across the nation. In July 2022, The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) submitted the state’s NEVI Plan to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
NEVI will provide approximately $175 million to the New York State Department of Transportation over a five-year period. Funds must be invested within one travel mile of designated EV corridors and charging stations cannot be more than 50 miles apart.
Public participation is an essential component of the planning and development process. After submitting the supplemental information on the NEVI Plan in September 2022, NYSDOT established a brief online survey to solicit input and feedback. Using funds provided by the NEVI program, this plan aims to deploy electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers along designated EV corridors with the hope of establishing a nationwide charging network.
The Charge NY initiative is accelerating the growth of the electric vehicle market in the state through education, research, consumer outreach, and financial support for the installation of charging stations across New York.
This initiative is a collaboration between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the New York Power Authority, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. It is part of the State’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.
NYSDOT submitted a State EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) this past August. The plan includes information on the State’s existing charging infrastructure, investment goals, how the funding will be used, and how the program will be evaluated and actively monitored.
Updates on future programs and important notices can be received by filling out Charge NY’s “Connect With Us” form.
Sources: FHWA, NYSDOT
