Weekly Briefing: February 6, 2026
- Socially Adept Solutions
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
Week of February 2, 2026
Trump Administration Sued Over Funding Freeze for Billion Dollar NYC Project
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC), the agency that oversees the $16 billion Hudson River rail tunnel project, has sued the federal government after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) suspended $205 million in expected payments, leaving the project without sufficient funding to continue construction beyond this week.
GDC argues that the DOT has breached several grant and loan agreements and raises concerns that this decision may be politically motivated, citing statements suggesting the funding cuts were tied to the project’s characterization as a “Democratic program”.
With funding frozen for four months, the project is now facing a potential shutdown of construction sites and layoffs of approximately 1,000 workers. This disruption introduces significant uncertainty for major infrastructure projects and shows how political and regulatory shifts can destabilize projects even after they are fully funded and underway.
The DOT initially reviewed and suspended funding due to compliance issues with new rules that forbid contracting mandates based on race and sex, but more recently the White House commented that the freeze was tied to Democrats “refusing to negotiate”..
Tariff Pressures Push Construction Material Costs Higher Entering 2026
Largely driven by tariffs, construction input costs rose in 2025, with nonresidential costs up 3.2% year over year and overall construction costs up 2.8%, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors.
Materials most exposed to tariffs saw significant price increases, such as copper wire and cable, which rose 22% year over year, and economists warn this rapid increase is set to continue in 2026.
Other metal-related costs saw some of the steepest increases, with aluminum mill shapes up 30.5% and steel mill products up 17%, while higher prices are also showing up in construction equipment and machinery, which increased 5.6%.
Less tariff-exposed materials, such as asphalt and crushed stone, are expected to remain relatively stable, which may be due to the lower demand for construction services outside of continued data center activity.
January 29, 2026
First Reserve, a Connecticut-based infrastructure focused private equity firm, has announced a strategic growth equity partnership with WGI, a Florida-based engineering, planning, and geospatial firm serving both public and private clients. This partnership provides additional operational and financial support, enabling WGI to better serve its clients and capitalize on emerging trends. "David and his team have built an exceptional business defined by technical excellence, strong leadership and deep client relationships and we are looking forward to partnering with the WGI team as they embark on a new chapter of growth," said Jeff Quake, Managing Partner at First Reserve. "Across the U.S. infrastructure, owners are faced with aging assets, population growth and increasing resilience requirements, driving sustained demand for the multidisciplinary expertise WGI provides."
February 2, 2026
Consor Engineers (Consor), a Texas-based infrastructure engineering and consulting firm, backed by New Mountain Capital, has acquired Cavnue, a Washington, D.C.-based firm specializing in the development and deployment of smart road technologies. This acquisition furthers Consor’s mission to drive advancements in transportation, logistics, and infrastructure through technology enablement. “This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to expand on our differentiated capabilities to support infrastructure modernization,” said Hisham Mahmoud, Executive Chairman of Consor. “Cavnue and Consor together bring a powerful combination of integrated go-to-market capabilities and complementary technical expertise to help deliver smarter, safer, and more efficient infrastructure outcomes.”
February 3, 2026
Pape-Dawson Engineers, a Texas-based civil engineering, environmental, and surveying firm, backed by Palm Beach Capital, has acquired Prism Engineering, a Kentucky-based civil engineering firm specializing in land development services. This acquisition marks another step in Pape-Dawson’s geographic expansion and will provide the firm with additional technical expertise. “This acquisition will bring added value and opportunity for both employees and clients alike,” said Phil Gambrell, Owner of Prism Engineering. “We’re maintaining the same local leadership, relationships, and hands-on approach for which we’re known, now supported by the resources, technology, comprehensive capabilities, and career pathways of a larger firm. We’re thrilled to help build upon Pape-Dawson’s 60-year legacy established on respect, trust, and excellence.”
February 4, 2026
Colliers Engineering & Design, a New Jersey-based architecture, engineering, planning, and design firm and the U.S. division of Colliers' engineering segment, has acquired Ramos Consulting Services (Ramos), a California-based firm providing program management, construction management, and engineering services for large public transit projects. This acquisition furthers Colliers Engineering & Design's presence in California and will enable the firm to serve the growing demand for transit and transportation projects. “Ramos’ reputation in the California transportation sector is exceptional,” said Kevin L. Haney, President & CEO, Colliers Engineering & Design, U.S. “Their deep project experience and longstanding relationships will meaningfully strengthen our growing infrastructure capabilities. We are thrilled to welcome their talented team to Colliers.”
February 5, 2026
Schneider Geospatial (Schneider), an Indiana-based provider of GIS and SaaS solutions serving a variety of clients and markets, backed by Align Capital Partners, has acquired Bruce Harris & Associates (BHA), an Illinois-based firm providing parcel mapping, GIS system integration, and land records services for local government clients. This acquisition aligns with Schneider’s mission of improving the technological capabilities of local governments and particularly parcel management systems. “Local governments don’t just need better technology; they need confidence that complex work will be done correctly,” said Jeff Corns, CEO of Schneider. “Integrating BHA into Schneider allows us to combine cloud-based parcel management with experienced, field-tested execution, helping customers move forward faster without sacrificing data quality or long-term stability.”
Freese & Nichols’ New Orleans office put recycled Christmas trees to use by helping build wave dampening fences and coastline barriers in Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. This effort was part of Jefferson Parish’s annual Treecycling program, which repurposes trees to soften waves, limit erosion, and protect wildlife habitats. Volunteering time to preserve the natural environment aligns with Freese & Nichols’ core Serve Always value, reflecting their commitment to find creative, practical solutions while striving to make the world a better place.
The EFCG Weekly Briefing summarizes the week’s key news in the AEC industry, including M&A updates, and micro- and macro-trends, aggregated from industry-focused and global news sources.
To send any additional press releases or news from your firm that you would like us to share please email Clay Han at chan@efcg.com.