The Panama Canal Expansion and Commerce
April 10th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing this afternoon on the expansion of the Panama Canal and the effects that the expansion will have on freight movement in the United States. The issue is one that ASCE has been discussing in depth over the past few months, because the economic impacts could be severe. During the hearing Chairman Jay Rockefeller strongly stated that the United States has “grown accustomed to an ad-hoc approach to maintaining our surface transportation network”. He went on further to state that “this lack of planning and shortsighted thinking doesn’t reflect what our country truly needs: A strategic, long-term vision for rebuilding our transportation system.” Rockefeller finished his opening remarks declaring that without a vision and the ability to make tough choices, that the U.S. will end up burdened with “inadequate infrastructure” as the rest of the world continues investing. With the scheduled expansion of the Panama Canal by 2015, the average size of container ships is likely to increase significantly, affecting the operations at most of the major U.S. ports that handle containerized cargo and requiring both sectors to modernize. Needed investment in marine ports includes harbor and channel dredging, while inland waterways require new or rehabilitated lock and dam facilities. To remain competitive on a global scale, U.S. marine ports and inland waterways will require investment in the coming decades beyond the $14.4 billion currently expected. ASCE reports that with an additional investment of $15.8 billion between now and 2020, the U.S. can eliminate this drag on economic growth and protect:- $270 billion in U.S. exports
- $697 billion in GDP
- 738,000 jobs in 2020
- $872 billion in personal income, or $770 per year for households
Check Out Our New "Failure to Act" Economic Report!
September 17th, 2012 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Last Thursday, ASCE released its latest “Failure to Act” report on the economic impact of underinvestment in America’s infrastructure. In the report, we’ve projected a significant gap between planned investment and spending needs for the nation’s airports, marine ports, and inland waterways. With ports and inland waterways critical to our nation’s global competitiveness, the report forecasts investment falling $16 billion short of the $30 billion needed through 2020. For airports, there is a projected gap of $19 billion from a total need of $114 billion. Failing to meet the gaps creates a drag on the economy by causing congestion and delays for U.S. businesses that import and export goods, leading to higher transportation costs and causing the price of goods to rise. Read and download the full report. The fourth report in the Failure to Act series was released during two events in Washington, D.C., one for media members and another for Congressional staff. Both events were moderated by ASCE President Andy Herrmann, and joined by Virginia Port Authority Executive Director Jerry Bridges, and Rick Calhoun, President of Cargo Carriers. The event on Capitol Hill was highlighted by remarks from Congresswoman Janice Hahn (D-CA), co-chair and founder of the Ports Caucus. Previous Failure to Act reports have analyzed electricity, surface transportation, and drinking water and wastewater. Access the complete series at www.asce.org/failuretoact. You can view media coverage of the release below: America’s ailing ports invisible amid the country’s failing infrastructure Washington Post The estimate was presented Thursday in a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers, a professional trade group that has commissioned a series of reports on the gap between current spending on infrastructure and the funding needed to repair or … Aging Port Infrastructure Threatens 1 Million U.S. Jobs, Says ASCE Dredging Today Aging infrastructure for marine ports, inland waterways, and airports threatens more than 1 million U.S. jobs according to a new Failure to Act report from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)… American Society of Civil Engineers says U.S. jobs threatened by aging ports … Birmingham Business Journal A report by the American Society of Civil Engineers said jobs in the United States will be threatened unless maintenance of aging infrastructure for marine ports and inland waterways is properly funded. Billions in upgrades needed for ports, waterways, civil engineering group … Corpus Christi Caller Times The Failure to Act report, completed by the American Society of Civil Engineers warns that the country needs about $30 billion in infrastructure improvements to accommodate expanded international trade by 2020. That is about $16 billion more than what … Study shows port funding lax, but Manatee ahead of game Bradenton Herald That shortfall could create a drag on the U.S. economy to the tune of 1 million jobs and $700 billion worth of GDP by 2020, according to a report released Thursday by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The group lobbied for the federal government …
Tags: congress, infrastructure, ports, sustainability, water infrastructure
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Obama Announces Major Port Projects to Be Expedited
July 23rd, 2012 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
The Obama Administration has announced that as part of its “We Can’t Wait” initiative, seven nationally and regionally significant infrastructure projects will be expedited to help modernize and expand five major ports in the United States, including the Port of Jacksonville, the Port of Miami, the Port of Savannah, the Port of New York and New Jersey, and the Port of Charleston. “I am excited to hear the Administration is taking steps to speed up improvements of some of America’s most important infrastructure and our lifeline to international trade – our ports,” said ASCE President Andrew W. Herrmann, P.E. In March, President Obama signed an Executive Order to charge the Office of Management and Budget with making the permitting and review process for infrastructure projects more efficient and effective. These are the first seven of the initial 43 projects that will be expedited by the Executive Order – additional expedited infrastructure projects will be announced in the coming weeks. The Obama Administration also announced the establishment of a White House-led Task Force that will consist of senior officials from various White House offices, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Departments of Transportation, Commerce, Homeland Security, and the Treasury. The Task Force will develop a Federal strategy and coordinated decision-making principles that focus on the economic return of investments into coastal ports and related infrastructure to support the movement of commerce throughout the Nation. For more information on the port projects selected check out the White House site To read President Herrmann’s full statement, go to ASCE’s website
