David Raymond joined ACEC in 1999, after 35 years in senior positions in the engineering industry, government, and academia. He served for 20 years with Raytheon Engineers & Constructors (Massachusetts), Ebasco Services, Inc. (New York), ENSERCH Corporation (Texas) and TAMS Engineers (New York). His government positions included: director of the US Trade and Development Agency; special assistant to the US AID Administrator; deputy director of the US Reimbursable Development Program; and legislative assistant to US Senator Stuart Symington (D-Missouri). He also served as assistant dean of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He is a graduate of Princeton University (BA), Tufts University (MA) and Georgetown University Law School (JD). He resides in Potomac, Maryland with his wife, Molly, and their two children.
It is ironic to me that at a time when both Republicans and Democrats appear ready to pass a highway bill, the Administration wants to put it off and we are debating the relative merits of private investment vs. federal funding when we know that both are required in ever-greater magnitudes. The fact is that highway bills are among the few bills that both parties in Congress have long believed merit strong federal funding. And at a time when the economy suffers an employment downtown, both parties believe that highway bills offer real stimulus for job-creation. No one would argue… Read more
Yes, the funds allocated to transportation in the Recovery Act are working to help boost the economy, jump-start projects, and create jobs. However, only a small portion of the stimulus package was allocated to transportation to begin with, so we missed an opportunity to get even more bang for the federal buck. States are executing many “shovel-ready” projects -- in many cases road paving and deferred maintainance -- but not the more complex projects that will generate larger and more sustainable job creation. To achieve such an objective on the back of the current recovery bill, we need early approval – not an… Read more
The 18 month delay presumes that (1) we’ll know more by then than we do right now about what entails an effective program, and (2) that the political situation by then will be more favorable for bill passage than now. What will we know in 18 months that we don’t know now? What will we know that is not included in the reports and recommendations of the two outstanding bi-partisan blue ribbon commissions that offered up their analysis and concrete proposals over the past year? And, politically, will we be in a better position when we are on the… Read more
The fact that government agencies responsible for infrastructure programs lack key management and procurement staff – just at the time that such personnel are sorely needed – means, as Emil Frankel says, that these agencies “are going to have to look to the private sector to supply the program and project management that they lack.” What is most unfortunate, however, is that some agencies are continuing to make unwarranted investment in retaining extensive in-house engineering capability to perform functions that are not inherently governmental, thereby limiting resources that could be used for management improvements. Rather than competing directly with the… Read more
VMT is not a bad idea. In fact it's a very good one. Over the long term, as gas tax revenue dwindles, we'll either have to raise the tax rate, tax replacement fuels, or find other ways to raise revenue. In this brave new world, VMT is an idea that beats others I've heard hands down. Why? Because its equitable, efficient and can be adjusted in so many different ways depending upon policy priorities. I think the Administration needs to consider it carefully.… Read more
I would suggest one critical amendment: Let's make sure that stimulus funds for infrastructure are invested in the private economy rather than in the growth of government. A great risk of the current bill is that recovery money could be used to hire more government employees at just the time when stimulating the private economy is our greatest concern. Private engineers and contractors have traditionally been the engines of successful project delivery and economic growth. So let's put the money where it will do the most good.… Read more
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