• The U.S. Department of Transportation is figuring out how it will speed up project permitting to obey a March executive order from President Obama and requirements in the just-signed MAP-21 transportation construction law.
• In the order, Obama said there has to be a government-wide plan to create transparency, predictability, accountability and continuous improvement of routine infrastructure permitting and reviews.
• Associated General Contractors is urging officials to make sure their improved processes apply to small infrastructure projects, not just large ones.

From the article:

The Obama Administration issued guidance this week to implement Executive Order 13604 issued in March 2012 that is intended to speed up the environmental review and permitting process for major infrastructure projects. The Executive Order called for creation of a Federal Plan detailing a government-wide initiative to modernize the Federal permitting and review process to achieve better projects, improved environmental and community outcomes, and shorter decision-making and review timelines for infrastructure projects. ...