A review of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank

Members of the General Assembly asked the Legislative Audit Council to review the operations of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank, a state agency that awards grants and loans to local and state agencies primarily for large transportation construction projects. The primary audit objectives were to review compliance with state law and policies regarding: The awarding of grants and loans for transportation construction projects ; The use of project revenues and whether funds dedicated to specific projects have been comingled with funds dedicated to other projects ;• Proper accounting and reporting procedures ; The process for repayment of revenue bonds ; Hiring of consultants, attorneys, and bond credit rating agencies ; Ethics.

Evaluating green infrastructure in urban environments using a multi-taxa and functional diversity approach

Forested areas within cities host a large number of species, responsible for many ecosystem services in urban areas. The biodiversity in these areas is influenced by human disturbances such as atmospheric pollution and urban heat island effect. To ameliorate the effects of these factors, an increase in urban green areas is often considered sufficient. However, this approach assumes that all types of green cover have the same importance for species. Our aim was to show that not all forested green areas are equal in importance for species, but that based on a multi-taxa and functional diversity approach it is possible to value green infrastructure in urban environments. After evaluating the diversity of lichens, butterflies and other-arthropods, birds and mammals in 31 Mediterranean urban forests in south-west Europe (Almada, Portugal), bird and lichen functional groups responsive to urbanization were found. A community shift (tolerant species replacing sensitive ones) along the urbanization gradient was found, and this must be considered when using these groups as indicators of the effect of urbanization. Bird and lichen functional groups were then analyzed together with the characteristics of the forests and their surroundings. Our results showed that, contrary to previous assumptions, vegetation density and more importantly the amount of urban areas around the forest (matrix), are more important for biodiversity than forest quantity alone. This indicated that not all types of forested green areas have the same importance for biodiversity. An index of forest functional diversity was then calculated for all sampled forests of the area. This could help decision-makers to improve the management of urban green infrastructures with the goal of increasing functionality and ultimately ecosystem services in urban areas.

The joint European Research Infrastructure Network for Coastal Observatories: Achievements and Strategy for the Future

This document is summarizing a major part of the work performed by the FP7-JERICO consortium, including 27 partner institutions, during 4 years (2011-2015). Its objective is to propose a strategy for the European coastal observation and monitoring. To do so we give an overview of the main achievements of the FP7-JERICO project. From this overview, gaps are analysed to draw some recommendations for the future. Overview, gaps and recommendation are addressed at both Hardware and Software levels of the JERICO Research Infrastructure. The main part of the document is built upon this analysis to outcome a general strategy for the future, giving priorities to be targeted and some possible funding mechanisms, but also upon discussions held in dedicated JERICO strategy workshops. This document was initiated in 2014 by the coordination team but considering the fact that an overview of the entire project and its achievement were needed to feed this strategy deliverable it couldn’t ended before the end of FP7-JERICO, April 2015. The preparation of the JERICO-NEXT proposal in summer 2014 to answer an H2020 call for proposals pushed the consortium ahead, fed deep thoughts about this strategy but the intention was to not propose a strategy only bounded by the JERICO-NEXT answer. Authors are conscious that writing JERICO-NEXT is even drawing a bias in the thoughts and they tried to be opened. Nevertheless, comments are always welcome to go farther ahead. Structure of the document The Chapter 3 introduces the need of sustained coastal observatories, from different point of view including a short description of the FP7-JERICO project. In Chapter 4, an analysis of the JERICO coastal observatory Hardware (platforms and sensors) in terms of Status at the end of JERICO, identified gaps and recommendations for further development is provided region by region. The main challenges that remain to be overcome is also summarized. Chapter 5 is dedicated the JERICO infrastructure Software (calibration, operation, quality assessment, data management) and the progress made through JERICO on harmonization of procedures and definition of best practices. Chapter 6 provides elements of a strategy towards sustainable and integrated coastal observations for Europe, drawing a roadmap for cost-effective scientific-based consolidation of the present infrastructure while maximizing the potential arising from JERICO in terms of innovation, wealth-creation, and business development. After reading the chapter 3, for who doesn’t know JERICO, any chapter can be read independently. More details are available in the JERICO final reports and its intermediate reports; all are available on the JERICO web site (www.jerico-FP7.eu) as well as any deliverable. Each chapter will list referring JERICO documents. A small bibliographic list is available at the end of this deliverable.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Accountability Report FY1999-2000

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2001-2002

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2002-2003

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2003-2004

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2004-2005

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2005-2006

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2006-2007

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2007-2008

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2008-2009

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2009-2010

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank Annual Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2010-2011

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank reports to the Office of State Budget its annual accountability report that includes an executive summary, organizational profile including leadership system, program descriptions and budgets, and program results.

THE DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNATIONAL WATER AND SANITATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: DEFINING “QUALITY AT ENTRY” OF WORLD BANK PROJECTS.

Over the past 15 years, the number of international development projects aimed at combating global poverty has increased significantly. Within the water and sanitation sector however, and despite heightened global attention and an increase in the number of infrastructure projects, over 800 million people remain without access to appropriate water and sanitation facilities. The majority of donor aid in the water supply and sanitation sector of developing countries is delivered through standalone projects. The quality of projects at the design and preparation stage is a critical determinant in meeting project objectives. The quality of projects at early stage of design, widely referred to as quality at entry (QAE), however remains unquantified and largely subjective. This research argues that water and sanitation infrastructure projects in the developing world tend to be designed in the absence of a specific set of actions that ensure high QAE, and consequently have relatively high rates of failure. This research analyzes 32 cases of water and sanitation infrastructure projects implemented with partial or full World Bank financing globally from 2000 – 2010. The research uses categorical data analysis, regression analysis and descriptive analysis to examine perceived linkages between project QAE and project development outcomes and determines which upstream project design factors are likely to impact the QAE of international development projects in water supply and sanitation. The research proposes a number of specific design stage actions that can be incorporated into the formal review process of water and sanitation projects financed by the World Bank or other international development partners.