Infrastructure Law Blog

Recent Posts from Infrastructure Law Blog

• A Renaissance for Rail? President Obama Releases a New Plan for High-Speed Rail

       On April 16, 2009, President Obama unveiled his new High-Speed Rail Strategic Plan.  Until this year, rail transportation has received less than three percent of all federal investment in intercity transportation infrastructure and the…

• Are public works bidding requirements in California really that restrictive?

  In a word, yes.  Most public agencies are required to award their public works construction projects to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder.  Failure to comply with public bidding requirements can result in a legal ruling…

• DIR opinion solidifies "de minimis" exception to prevailing wages for private developers

  The California Department of Industrial Relations recently published an opinion which solidifies the “de minimis” exception to prevailing wage laws for private developers which receive small amounts of public financial support for their projects. In…

• Federal Stimulus Bill Means Increased Infrastructure Spending Coming to the Bay Area

  While the recession has led to a drastic slowdown in the construction industry, the horizon looks brighter as the Bay Area preps for a welcome infusion of cash from the federal government. The money comes…

• President Obama Signs Executive Order Authorizing Use of Project Labor Agreements for Some Federal Construction Contracts

  On February 6, 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order authorizing federal executive agencies to use project labor agreements on federal construction contracts with a total cost of $25 million or more.  The Order is…

• New guide for creating "grid neutral" schools in California

  The California State & Consumer Services Agency recently released the first draft of a step-by-step guide to help California schools and community colleges cut energy costs through on-site electricity generation and become "grid neutral."  The guide is entitled "Grid Neutral: …

• California court upholds 50-year ground lease between public health care district and private health care provider, allowing construction of a new SF Bay Area hospital to proceed

  A recently published appellate case upholds a 50-year ground lease and related agreements between the Peninsula Health Care District (“District”) and the Mills-Peninsula Health Services (“MPHS”), which will allow the construction of a new hospital…

• New design-build authority for cities, transit operators and Sonoma Valley Health Care District

  Governor Schwarzenegger recently signed three bills which will expand the ability of cities, transit operators and the Sonoma Valley Health Care District to award projects on a design-build basis.  Each of these agencies is generally constrained by…

• Court clarifies public works contract claims procedures in relation to government tort claim procedures

  On August 25, 2008, a California appellate court held that compliance with the claims procedures set forth in a public works contract relieves a contractor from the requirement to file a government tort claim prior…

• Court clarifies subcontractor substitution requirements

  A California appellate court recently clarified the requirements for substitution of a subcontractor on a public works project under Public Contract Code sections 4100-4114. (Titan Electric Corp. v. Los Angeles Unified School District (2008), 160…