News briefs – May 2007

CH2M HILL hired about 900 professionals in the first quarter of 2007 to staff a growing number of water, transportation, environmental, and industrial projects worldwide. In 2007, CH2M HILL plans to hire 7,000 people and currently has more than 1,200 open positions. Current openings include civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and process engineers; designers; procurement staff; construction managers; and technical publication staff. The largest numbers of openings are in the Southwest and Southeast. More than 70 percent of the first-quarter hires occurred in the United States; 86 percent were full-time positions and 88 percent were external hires.

The Texas Association of Business (TAB) urged lawmakers to reject legislation that would place a moratorium on public-private tollways, saying Texas should improve and expand, not limit, the types of tools it uses to fund and improve the state’s transportation infrastructure. “When it comes to state transportation policy our message is, ‘Keep the dirt flying,'” says TAB President Bill Hammond, referring to state transportation law that has enabled Texas to enter into public-private partnerships for needed tollway projects. “Outlawing billions of dollars in private road investment without increasing other funding sources, is a recipe for more traffic, more accidents and fewer jobs created here in Texas.”

On May 2, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed H.Res. 352, supporting the ideals and goals of National Public Works Week (NPWW). Instituted as a public education campaign by the American Public Works Association (APWA) in 1960, NPWW calls attention to the importance of public works in community life. The resolution “urges citizens and communities throughout the United States to join with representatives of the federal government in activities and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to the public works professionals of the nation and to recognize the substantial contributions that public works professionals make to the nation.” NPWW 2007, celebrated May 20-26, honors public works professionals who are “Moving Life Forward.” More information about NPWW is available at www.apwa.net/npww.