National and state funding successes highlighted at CIRI Spring Dinner Meeting.
RI Senator Jack Reed and ARTBA Chairman Tim Duit were featured speakers at May 29 event.
The synergy among construction industry advocates in Rhode Island and Washington continues to be a catalyst for our state’s overall infrastructure and the economy at large.
For our annual Spring Dinner Meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, keynote speaker Senator Jack Reed provided an update on the continuing benefits provided to Rhode Island by the historic bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Plenary speaker Tim Duit, chair of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), spoke about his organization’s longstanding advocacy mission to ensure support and funding for highway and bridge projects across the nation.
Keynote speaker RI Senator Reed participating
in the scholarship award presentations.
RI Senator Jack Reed
In a brief introduction, CIRI President Mike D’Ambra thanked Senator Reed for his invaluable support of transportation construction initiatives in the House and Senate over the past four decades. He specifically cited the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Enacted in 2021, the IIJA has resulted in $1.8 billion dollars of funding for qualifying projects in Rhode Island — including $1.5 billion exclusively for surface transportation.
“For years, there was talk about an infrastructure bill,” Reed recounted in his address. Finally, President Biden put together a bipartisan infrastructure bill. And the word bipartisanship in Washington is used rarely. I think all of my colleagues recognized that we’ve been neglecting our infrastructure for decades. That we needed to invest now for the future. And we made that investment.”
Senator Reed then recognized the efforts of RIDOT and CIRI over the years in bringing key projects to fruition for safer, more efficient travel — which has a huge impact for the RI economy and its communities. He also praised Director Alviti and RIDOT for its continued success in competing for available discretionary grants beyond the IIJA federal formula funding. Monies from these grants are helping to finance a wide range of projects including multimodal improvements along Route 37, the Newport Cliff Walk repairs, the Pell Bridge upgrades — and the Missing Move project to provide a direct freeway connection from I-95 South to Route 403 and the Quonset Business Park.
“We could appropriate all the money in the world. But without skilled professionals, dedicated people, and without the new young people coming in from our universities as engineers and coming in as tradespeople, we couldn’t get this done.”
CIRI Executive Director Ernie Carlucci; ARTBA Chair Tim Duit and CIRI President Mike D’Ambra
Tim Duit
ARTBA Chairman
CIRI President Mike D’Ambra prefaced Tim Duit’s address by citing ARTBA’s continual mission to protect and expand transportation infrastructure investment nationwide. The latest in a long line of engaging speakers the organization has provided for us over the years, It was the first time an ARTBA chairman has spoken at a CIRI dinner.
Tim started out as a laborer at Duit Construction, the Oklahoma company founded by his father in 1969, becoming president in 2017. Under his leadership, the Duit group of companies has grown into a team of over 800 employees with over 1500 pieces of equipment, making it one of the state’s largest heavy highway paving contractors.
“The main reason I’m here is to thank CIRI for being a valued partner of ARTBA since 1981,” Duit began. “Like many of you, working to create and improve our state’s transportation network is more to me than just a career. It’s a family legacy that motivates me daily.”
Duit continued with a look at the accomplishments of the landmark IIJA/BIL legislation, then at its midpoint, citing the 38% increase in highway funding during its first year in 2022.
“Here in Rhode Island, this record federal investment resulted in commitments for nearly 300 new highway and bridge projects in 2022 and 2023 alone. We thank Senator Reed for his support of the IIJA. As well as his leading role in ensuring our federal transportation programs have been fully funded — and then some.”
While documenting the successes of the IIJA, ARTBA is continuing to work with US senators and representatives with the goal of getting the act renewed for FY 2027. Duit closed by saying ARTBA is excited to be holding its Northeastern Regional meeting in Newport this fall with CIRI serving as sponsor and host.
“We hope many of you can be there and help us show off this beautiful part of the country.”
