Author Archive
This Week in Infrastructure: Investment Gets New Advocates
March 9th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
What do a comedian, a country music singer, and a businessman all have in common? You may have thought this was a joke, but in fact it’s what happened this week in the news, as the call for infrastructure investment came from some unexpected spokespersons. Comedian Jim Gaffigan assessed Los Angeles’ infamous congestion problems while stuck in traffic at 10:30 on a Wednesday night.“Maybe if we do nothing about the traffic problem it will go away?” – Los Angeles
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) March 6, 2014
While Gaffigan’s tweet isn’t entirely accurate—LA has been working to ease congestion—everyone has experienced a frustrating traffic jam and pondered what could be done to fix it.
Kip Moore, a rising country singer, joined with CASE Construction Equipment to promote infrastructure investment, particularly in underserved communities.
The president of C&J Bus Lines, a private professional motor coach company located in New Hampshire, advocated for an increase in the gas tax, as the state legislature considers it. The op-ed received praise from another resident, who agreed that the need for maintenance was worth the cost.
Bill Chameides, blogger on Huffington Post and dean of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, also made compelling arguments, pointing out that “while Americans seem ever eager to get the latest iPhone … we seem behind the curve when it comes to basic upkeep” of our nation’s infrastructure. The piece then moves on to discuss the Highway Trust Fund and the search for a reliable funding mechanism, an issue also explored in an interview on Boston NPR.
Furthering the case on the need for investment, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a report last Friday assessing aging infrastructure, and urging spending to fund improvements. In a Wall Street Journal article about the report, ASCE’s Casey Dinges echoed the report’s findings, stating “Just the status quo is not going to work” when it comes to funding.
As the discussion for funding the Highway Trust Fund continues, it’s nice to see a wide range of advocates for the cause.
This Week in Infrastructure: Funding Conversations Get a Front Seat
February 28th, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
Over the past few weeks, stories have been trickling out about the financial cliff the Highway Trust Fund is heading toward, with too few conversations about finding solutions, given the importance of the topic. This week that shifted. President Obama called attention to the Highway Trust Fund and the need for investment during a trip to Minnesota, by proposing a $302 billion transportation plan. During his speech, he stressed the link between transportation infrastructure and job creation. Furthermore, Rep. Dave Camp also announced his plan for a corporate tax overhaul, which would dedicate $162.5 billion to the Highway Trust Fund over the next eight years. ASCE and several other infrastructure advocates are encouraged by both proposals, and look forward to being part of the discussion. Rep. Bill Shuster, chair of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, was also “encouraged” by both plans. As states, including Alabama, Rhode Island and North Dakota, continue to plan for a lack of federal dollars, it is essential to find a sustainable funding solution. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, a bipartisan group in the state legislature began exploring the idea of toll roads. The Washington Post celebrated the other well-known form of funding’s 95th birthday with “A (Very) Brief History of the State Gas Tax.” And in a similar spirit, the National Journal wrote about how Oregon, the state which originated the gas tax, now may be the one to find its replacement. Discussions on funding are beginning to take center stage, an indication of progress in the quest to fund the Highway Trust Fund.This Week in Infrastructure: Winter Weather Gets People Thinking About the Cost of Underinvestment
February 21st, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
Perhaps between Disney’s box office hit Frozen and the Sochi Olympics you feel as though you’re living in a winter wonderland. Or perhaps it’s because you actually are, given this year’s record snowfall in cities across the country. In addition to the snow days and need for shovels and boots, this winter has done a number on roads across the country. Cities are running out of salt, pothole-dodging could be an Olympic sport, and finding places to mound all that snow is proving a challenge. This all comes as state DOTs are already worried about funding as the Highway Trust Fund is on a path to insolvency. The weather’s impact doesn’t end with Americans’ commutes. The electric grid has also taken a hard hit, with tens of thousands still without power in Georgia and South Carolina. The cold weather has also ravaged pipes, including in Iowa, where there has been a record number of water main breaks in the past six weeks. As all of these problems become more than the sum of their parts—especially true as infrastructure works as a system—this piece in a California paper asks if “our nation can handle freaky weather?” Meanwhile, West Virginia’s chemical spill last month continues to draw concerns about the safety of drinking water across the country. The weather’s impact on infrastructure (and the media attention surrounding it) has certainly shown the need for funding and attention for our nation’s roads, electric grid, water pipes, and much more.Tags: Drinking Water, Electric Grid, highway trust fund, surface transportation, transportation
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