Author Archive
Infrastructure in the News: Water’s Winning Week
September 16th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Thursday was a big day for water infrastructure. With the passing of WRDA in the Senate, Imagine a Day Without Water could not have fallen on a more fitting day. Yesterday hundreds of organizations across the country, including water agencies, mayors, engineers, schools and business and labor leaders, joined forces to raise public awareness about water and wastewater problems. We all know we depend on water, but this video by the U.S. Water Alliance illustrates how absolutely central water is to our everyday life. Due to the out-of-sight nature of water infrastructure, many don’t realize the extent to which our water infrastructure needs TLC. The aging issues of underground pipes don’t receive much attention from the public until a major water crisis like that in Flint, Mich. occurs. However, many pipes and water mains are over 100 years old, and an estimated 1.7 trillion gallons of water are wasted every year due to lack of pipe replacement and broken pipes. Many challenges plague our water systems. According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the investment needs for water and wastewater systems are higher than what is currently being invested. An article in the Alliance for Manufacturing explains the details of where maintenance is most required in water infrastructure. But of course each community faces its own challenges, whether it be drought, flooding, infrastructure failure, sewer overflows, poor water quality, and climate change are stressing our water and wastewater systems. Other infrastructure that relates to water is also in need of increased investment. On Thursday, the Senate passed WRDA to help invest in navigation, flood management, and ecosystem restoration projects. The bill also provides critical investment to help communities reduce public health risks posed by lead, targets aid to rural drinking water systems, bolsters funding for water technology innovation, jumpstarts an innovative financing program for water infrastructure projects, and makes common sense reforms to the Clean Water Act (CWA) to ensure clean water investments remain affordable to lower-income ratepayers. Now it’s up to the House of Representatives to move their bill forward so that WRDA can become law.Infrastructure in the News: Looking ahead to high-speed rail
September 2nd, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
High-speed rail (HSR), offers a plethora of benefits; Day-long commutes accomplished in hours, congestion relief on the roads, and helping the environment by reduced oil consumption and emissions. With the first HST originating in Japan 50 years ago, more than 20 countries currently use HSR and experience stunning benefits. Despite the growing popularity and success of HSR around the world, the U.S. has only just started to catch up. Vice President Biden recently announced a $2.45 billion high-speed rail plan that will establish a federal loan for Amtrak to expand its high-speed railway infrastructure. The new trains, which Amtrak expects to begin running in 2021, will have initial speeds of up to 160 mph, but will be capable of speeds up to 186 mph. This is part of a six-year plan that Biden announced in 2011, that promised $53 billion in HSR investment. Amtrak plans to invest in 28 next-generation trains sets and significant upgrades to the Northeast Corridor. The trains are expected to accommodate one-third more passengers, more outlets and USB ports, improved WiFi quality and top speeds up to 186 mph. While Biden’s plan is a dramatic step towards establishing HSR as a viable transportation option nationwide, states like California and Florida have already begun to construct HSR infrastructure. Although still in the testing phase, the proposed construction of the futuristic tube-like bullet train, Hyperloop, offers travelers in California another high-speed option. America may be behind on the HSR bandwagon; however, it is exciting to think about where we could be in five years.Happy Birthday, National Parks!
August 25th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Today marks the 100th anniversary of an American treasure: the National Park Service (NPS). With 412 areas covering more than 84 million acres, located in every state, the National Park System includes national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks and sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. In 2015, the National Park System hit a record of 300 million visitors. Yet, in spite of their popularity, the bill for deferred maintenance at the National Parks is nearly $12 billion nationwide. In honor of the anniversary, CNN explored some historic national parks and monuments that pale in comparison to what they once were. From Padre Island National Seashore in Texas to Fort Sumter National Monument in South Carolina to Everglades National Park in Florida and Yosemite National Park in California, rising concerns about wildlife safety, pollution and park conditions abound. A recent article in The Tennessean details the eroding conditions and desperate funding needs of the most popular park in the NPS , Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which reportedly needs $232 million in repairs for roads, campgrounds and other facilities. Fortunately, the American public is not indifferent to this issue. According to a study released in July 2016 by the National Park Foundation, 95 percent of the American public thinks protecting national parks for future generations is important, and 80 percent are willing to pay higher federal taxes to ensure the protection and preservation of the NPS. If maintaining national parks for the sake of preserving their historic and sentimental value weren’t enough, an economic study by the NPS shows that every federal dollar invested in our parks leads to $10 in economic activity by supporting nearby commerce. The data reveals that the parks generate $27 billion dollars in economic activity and support 250,000 private sector jobs nationally. We look forward to the next 100 years of the beauty and recreation that national parks offer. To ensure that future, making the investment into the system needs to be a priority.Innovations in Infrastructure: Reinventing Travel Convenience
August 19th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
According to the Chicago Tribune, Americans spent about $15 billion in fares on public transit in 2014. Public transit use has been steadily growing over the past few decades, with ridership increasing by nearly 39 percent since 1995. Yet, according to a recent article in Forbes, more and more people are losing confidence in public transit as a reliable transportation option. Travelers in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, Denver and our nation’s capitol continue to express frustration with their transit and public transportation systems as derailments, delays and unscheduled repairs are occurring more frequently than they should. However, despite such dismal circumstances, Americans continue to rely heavily on public transportation. In an effort to improve public transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation has launched an innovative research challenge. Public transit organizations can apply for $7 million in federal funding for projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to improving safety for passengers and public transportation workers. “With these new grants, the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) is funding research on cutting-edge technologies to improve the performance of public transportation, making a safe mode of travel even safer for passengers as well as those who keep the trains and buses running,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. A rising trend in the world of public transportation is the growing use of microtransit in cities throughout the nation. With seemingly unending options for new rideshare services available to the public, microtransit is starting to revolutionize the way Americans get around. While the idea of sharing rides is not new, better data on mobility patterns and widespread smartphone access have made microtransit more popular. Commingling of private microtransit services and public transportation abound. For example, The Kansas City Transit Authority partnered with the Boston-based microtransit agency Bridj and Ford on a one-year pilot project that will bring on-demand public transit to Kansas City. This partnership gives Kansas City residents the option of using an app to reserve a seat on a Bridj vehicle, a commuter shuttle service, at $1.50 per ride. This small-scale example shows the potential for microtransit to become a viable public transportation option. While the widespread maintenance issues and investment needs of our nation’s public transportation system are vast and complicated, innovative adaptions like microtransit are promising steps forward.Innovations in Infrastructure: Appreciating the Value of Water
August 16th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With the 2016 Summer Olympics in full swing, water quality is at the forefront of viewers’ minds. Obstacles of polluted water, trash and pollution-related illness are hindering the Olympic games and remind us all of how critical clean water and effective water treatment is to the health and welfare of society. In contrast to Brazil, our nation’s water quality remains very high, however our drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is in definite need of improvement. Fortunately, many have seen this as an opportunity for innovation. Lawrence Technical University in Michigan is leading a multi-state demonstration project that focuses on using green infrastructure design that can reduce stormwater runoff from parking lots. According to the Great Lakes Stormwater Institute, around 90 to 95 percent of all rainwater that hits surfaces such as asphalt and concrete runs off into storm drains, pipes and water bodies with little to no treatment, depositing high concentrations of pollutants into a community’s water supplies. This project meets these issues by using penetrable replacements for asphalt in campus parking lots that will promote infiltration down into the soil as opposed to having mass amounts of runoff into the water systems. The key component in this project is applying green infrastructure to mimic the natural hydrology of a site. In addition to innovative uses of green infrastructure to help manage stormwater, there have been other successful projects addressing water quality and infrastructure. A prime example is the ISI Envision Award-winning Brooklyn Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. New York City has had many instances of not properly dealing with wastewater and pollution in its rivers, harbors and bays. In an effort to change that, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection invested $150 million in upgrading the city’s wastewater treatment plant to more effectively receive, clean and disinfect up to 170 million gallons of combined sanitary and stormwater flow each day. The upgrade also aimed to increase resiliency against flooding, improve reliability and protect the ecological health of Jamaica Bay. While these are only two examples of successful water infrastructure projects, they represent the power of innovation to meet very real infrastructure needs. As seen in Brazil, water quality is critical to a functioning society and therefore worthy of investing time, energy and creativity towards improving it.Innovations in Infrastructure: Necessity is the mother of invention
August 5th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With 42 percent of the major urban highways in the U.S. congested and the problem only predicted to increase, there is a great need for our road and traffic systems to be modernized to prepare for and accommodate this congestion. Fortunately, cities around the nation have started utilizing technological solutions to help alleviate some of these mounting transportation frustrations. A few ways engineers and manufacturers will be able to ameliorate these problems through traffic signal synchronization, talking cars and future road construction, as illustrated in this infographic on “Technology and the Future of America’s Infrastructure”. one example of how this is happening right now is in Los Angeles, where magnetic sensors were set up across the city to send real-time traffic data to a central command, which adjusts the timing of traffic signals based on congestion. This process took more than 20 years to complete, but has reduced travel times by 12 percent while increasing average speeds by 16 percent. Cities like San Francisco and Seattle are implementing electronic signs and sensors to reveal available parking spaces in order to help alleviate parking space related congestion. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has created a new web application called Traffic Signals Asset Management (TSAMS), a pre-populated database that consolidates information about 8,700 traffic signals located on state routes to improve the management of traffic signals. Recently the U.S. DOT announced its commitment to using technology to make transportation more accessible through programs like the Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI), which seeks technology-based solutions to improving transportation accessibility and mobility. Each of these innovative steps forward are promising to the future of our nation’s transportation system. To read more about innovative solutions across different infrastructure sectors, check out ASCE’s #GameChangers report.Infrastructure in the News: States Making the Most of Summer Recess
July 29th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
As July wraps up and political issues continues to simmer, states are striving to meet their infrastructure needs in light of transportation budget woes and limited federal funds. In Wisconsin, residents and lawmakers recognize the dire need for road improvements but wrestle with a $1 billion transportation budget shortfall. Recent flood damage to roads and other public infrastructure are resulting in debris removal and emergency protective measures that will cost the state more than $35 million. Legislators are considering raising the state’s gas tax or creating a toll road system to help generate funding. Wisconsin is not unique in its transportation funding struggles. IND recently published an article, “How other states are slaying their transportation budget dragons,” showcasing how states like Virginia and Tennessee are working to raise money for their infrastructure needs. Virginia is taking an alternative approach to leveraging funding by making city and regional agencies prove the utility of their projects through a process similar to grant application. The Commonwealth Transportation Board reviews projects from around Virginia and scores them according to how well they “ease congestion, improve economic development, provide accessibility to jobs, improve safety and environmental quality, and support transportation-efficient land use.” This process encourages jurisdictions to reevaluate and prioritize their transportation problems and develop solutions in order to be granted funding. Tennessee has gotten creative by swapping road extension and expansion projects for cheaper alternatives that accomplish the same goals. They have successfully reduced transportation costs through their Expedited Delivery Process, which has directly contributed $171 million of the total $942 million in transportation cost reductions since 2014. States are also taking steps to improve their freight and rail infrastructure. Iowa created its first freight plan that will be used as a guideline to improve efficiency, lessen transportation congestion and reduce the industry’s impact on the public and environment. Kansas is working on shaping a statewide freight and rail plan that will specify long-term investment strategies and a program of improvements to keep driving progress. While these multi-state actions are positive steps forward, much work is still needed at the federal level to truly improve infrastructure. Fortunately, each presidential candidate agrees that infrastructure is important even though their two parties differ on how to approach the issue. In the meantime, with Congress in recess, now is a good time to encourage your legislators back home to invest in our infrastructure because the investment could save you and your family $3,400 a year.Infrastructure in the News: As Temperature Rises, so do Infrastructure Issues
July 22nd, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
As a sweltering heat engulfs most of the country, infrastructure issues have been heating up too. Many states are discussing their inadequate funding to improve infrastructure, presidential candidates are talking infrastructure, and a crane collapsed on one of the nation’s busiest bridges—reminding commuters of the value of working infrastructure. On Tuesday afternoon, a crane collapsed on top of the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York, closing six lanes and shutting down traffic in both directions for more than five hours. While no one died in this incident, the domino-effect inconveniences of this event remind us how much we rely on bridges. Despite the importance of roads and bridges, many states are struggling to properly fund their transportation projects. In Indiana, lawmakers are turning to rural residents and asking them to chime in about their infrastructure, and how best to fund it. In New Jersey, residents continue to be frustrated about the dozens of construction projects that have halted because of a political stalemate, which has put more than 1,000 state construction workers out of work. Rhode Island has historically spent little on capital projects like road and bridge repairs, reportedly dedicating less than 17 percent of its capital spending to highways, compared with a national average of 25 percent. Undoubtedly, this explains the poor road quality in Rhode Island compared to the national average. As Americans become increasingly more aware of the nation’s infrastructure deficit, the topic has become more talked about on the campaign trail. The Bipartisan Policy Center wrote an open letter to the presidential candidates asking that the winning candidate make infrastructure a First 100 Days priority. At the Republican National Convention, Presidential Nominee Donald Trump promised to invest in infrastructure and build new “roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports and the railways of tomorrow.” Check back next week for a breakdown of both parties’ platforms and convention discussion of infrastructure. In the meantime, Congress is out of session and now is a good time to encourage your legislators to invest in our infrastructure because the cost of investment could save you and your family $3,400 a year.Infrastructure in the News: Aviation and State Projects Get Attention as Congress Leaves Town
July 15th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
This week was packed with a short-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization extension bill, Florida’s infrastructure report card release, and more states implementing changes to fund their infrastructure. Congress has finally compromised on the FAA reauthorization bill, a 14-month extension that will boost airport security, refund baggage fees for lost or delayed items, and implement rules that will improve air travel for disabled persons and children. Although it was ultimately not included, air traffic control privatization dominated the debate, leaving little room for discussions of how to improve America’s aviation infrastructure. The earlier Senate bill included an increase in funding for the Airport Improvement Program, but the increase did not make the final bill. On a state level, Florida released its Infrastructure Report Card this past Thursday, breaking down the state’s infrastructure’s strengths and weaknesses. While the grade increased from the last report card in 2012 from a C- to a C, coastal areas, storm water management and school facilities still need improvement. When it comes to funding and maintaining state infrastructure, there are examples of both successes and failures seen this week. Idaho’s Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) program is an example of the benefits of making the investment, as it added almost 120 miles of highways to help relieve congestion, built 15 new bridges, replaced or widened 26 bridges, built and improved several interchanges and created or sustained more than 15,000 jobs. The FASTLANE grants, created through the federal FAST Act, are good examples of investments in state infrastructure projects that will bring much-needed value to the state. California is another state that is working hard to find new funding mechanisms, now trying out a pay-by-mile fee for drivers to see whether this will help generate funds. On the flip side, states like New Jersey and Illinois are suffering losses with state construction projects shutting down due to dwindling transportation funds. In the case of New Jersey, the projects shutdown could add 10 percent to construction costs once those projects are re-started. Clearly the price of underinvestment is high—and these states are not the only ones paying the price. ASCE’s latest Failure to Act report details how much we are all paying each year due to underinvestment in our nation’s infrastructure. As Members of Congress head home for summer recess, take the chance to share with our lawmakers that it’s important for us to have a long-term sustainable funding source and plan for our infrastructure.Infrastructure in the News: New Jersey screeches to a halt, Georgia and Louisiana surge ahead
July 8th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With July’s heat, construction projects should be in full swing and you’re probably considering a vacation. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an extra $3,400 in your bank account to plan a trip with? Well, as ASCE’s new Failure to Act economic study video shows, if we improved our infrastructure every American family could save $9 a day. Watch the video that details the high costs of underinvesting in our nation’s infrastructure and the solution to close the gap. New Jersey’s postponed decision to address the looming insolvency of its state transportation trust fund has resulted in a halt of dozens of transportation projects. Gov. Christie’s office released the seven-page list of projects that are on hold until a bill is passed. An opinion piece in the Washington Post echoes the frustration that New Jersey residents are experiencing and tells the state “Yo… you don’t have to cut a tax to raise a tax,” a debate at the center of passing a bill. The situation in New Jersey parallels that of the federal government which has also not increased its gas tax in 23 years. Mississippi is another state in a funding bind, as a recently proposed solution for much-needed highway improvements fizzled away, in spite of compelling arguments for investment. According to a study by the National Center for Pavement Preservation, maintenance costs can multiply to anywhere from six to 14 times what it would have cost if preservation work had been done within 15 years of a road’s construction. Once again, this illustrates we can invest now, or we can pay more later. In contrast to New Jersey and Mississippi, many states including Georgia and Louisiana are moving ahead with transportation projects due to intentionally raised state funds and contribution from the FASTLANE grants, which are part of the federal FAST Act. While these grants bring promising infrastructure maintenance and show what investment can do, they are also a reminder that our federal Highway Trust Fund is still without a fix that offers long-term, sustainable funding.
