Author Archive
Infrastructure in the News: 4th of July weekend puts highways to the test
July 1st, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
This week we celebrate two major birthdays—and they are more connected than you may realize. Aside from being Independence Day weekend, this week also marks the 60th birthday of the Interstate Highway System. While giving homage to our nation’s freedom, what better time to also reflect on our nation’s infrastructure? Our 60-year-old highway system represents an infrastructure accomplishment that unfortunately has not been well maintained. While it’s noteworthy that our interstate highway system has lasted 60 years, the federal gas tax has not kept up with inflation and the FAST Act will only provide five years of funding. In spite of our highway system’s need for maintenance, Americans continue to depend upon it. This holiday weekend, AAA predicts that nearly 43 million Americans will travel, representing the highest number of July 4th travelers on record. “Spurred by the lowest gas prices since 2005, more people than ever are planning to travel this Independence Day weekend,” said Marshall Doney, AAA President and CEO. Having such a need for improved infrastructure, the American public are not neutral to the needs of their highways. According to a recent survey, more than 50 percent of Americans are willing to pay more at the pump if the revenue is invested in specific transportation improvements. Without modernized infrastructure, our nation may one day not have the same ease of mobility that it currently enjoys with the interstate highway system. So what does the interstate highway have to do with our nation’s independence? From businesses to families, the freedom to prosper economically and move around efficiently is highly dependent on well-maintained and dependable infrastructure. That is why it is critical that local, state and federal governments work together to find long-term, sustainable funding solutions that enable us to improve our nation’s infrastructure.Infrastructure in the News: Summer Infrastructure Priorities
June 24th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With the start of summer, Congress is eyeing a long recess and construction season is in full swing, drawing increased attention to our surface transportation and water infrastructure needs. It is no secret to the American public that our infrastructure greatly needs TLC. That is why states like New Jersey are fighting so hard to get a transportation budget passed that would increase the state gas tax and provide a 10-year, $20 billion plan to invest in roads, bridges, rail and other infrastructure. It also explains why states like Wisconsin, Illinois and Tennessee are lamenting their lack of funding for much needed infrastructure improvement projects. Even in our nation’s capital, the subway system is undergoing tedious maintenance and the iconic Memorial Bridge is facing potential closure in five years due to increased vulnerability and lack of maintenance, and not enough funding to fix it. On a more positive note, there are many states that are making steps toward not only funding their infrastructure but advancing and innovating their cities. In fact, the city of Columbus, Ohio, recently beat out 77 other cities to win the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City challenge, which awarded them $40 million to kick off new transportation strategies. ASCE’s Gamechangers report lists a myriad of inspirational, innovative infrastructure accomplishments that remind us what can be accomplished when we make the investment. Speaking of moving forward, remind your Senators to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA; S.2848) before they recess for the summer, which would authorize funding for our nation’s flood control, navigation and ecosystem restoration projects. Because water infrastructure is so critical to our nation’s health and prosperity, passing this legislation would be a great step forward in preserving our water resources and more than 90 groups came together this week to share that sentiment with the Senate via a letter.Infrastructure in the News: Embracing Challenges and Moving Forward
June 17th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With the release of New Jersey’s state infrastructure report card, we are reminded how our nation’s overall infrastructure needs impact the everyday lives of citizens and state-specific needs. The state’s Transportation Trust Fund is heading toward bankruptcy by July 1 unless state legislators act. New Jersey residents can write their elected officials here and ask them to #FixNJTrustFund. When it comes to localities, it can be difficult to prioritize which infrastructure needs the most urgent repairs given limited funding and deferred maintenance backlogs. In Santa Monica, Calif., the city has made an effort to get a jump on things by investing resources in for infrastructure that doesn’t quite need an emergency fix in order to save money and headache down the road. “And the better you do at investing in your infrastructure, the more resources you have to continue investing in your infrastructure. And the opposite is just as true: The more you skimp on your infrastructure, the fewer resources you have to invest in your deferred maintenance,” Rick Cole, Santa Monica’s city manager. A less-commonly reported on example of where this underinvestment is true is in our school facilities. An op-ed in Politico recently exposed how many school facilities are outdated and need repairs, also evident in the Report Card’s “D” grade for school facilities. The US Green Building Council recently reported that over $45 billion in additional funding is needed annually to upgrade and maintain our schools to ensure health and safety. Like all infrastructure, school facilities that don’t receive regular maintenance acquire much costlier investment needs down the line. Fortunately the poor condition of our nation’s infrastructure has reached the ears of our top presidential candidates as both Clinton and Trump have agreed to make aging infrastructure a priority in their first 100 days in office. A column in The Hill elaborated on the importance of infrastructure in the upcoming election, featuring No Labels’ Policy Playbook for America’s Next President, supporting three infrastructure ideas that received 63-75 percent public support depending on the policy suggestion. In order to improve our infrastructure it is important that local, state and federal governments work together to find long-term, sustainable funding solutions that enable us to improve our nation’s infrastructure.Infrastructure in the News: Innovative and sexy are in, old and dilapidated are out
June 3rd, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With Dam Safety Awareness Day and the kickoff of Innovation Month, water, transportation, and dam infrastructure continue to be a topic of discussion in the media. Monday was National Dam Safety Awareness Day, which raised awareness about the need for dam safety protocols and procedures to protect the public from danger potentially caused by failing dams. Alabama is the only state without a dam safety program, which means the state does not have a record of how many dams there are in the state or what condition they are all in. Without a dam safety program, Alabama also doesn’t have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that is required in other states. While this is only one state, it underscores the need for nationwide awareness about the urgency of proper dam safety procedures. You can learn more by visiting livingneardams.org. In addition to dam safety, this week is the start of the U.S. DOT’s Innovation Month, which highlights the importance of confronting our infrastructure challenges and striving to develop new ideas and solutions that move us forward. ASCE’s Gamechangers report identifies great examples of innovative projects across a number of infrastructure sectors, and shows the benefits that communities experience when they choose to invest and innovate. Innovation, however, is simply not enough to restore our water, roads, dams and bridges that need serious attention. A story in CBS detailed the state of our “crumbling bridges, cratered roads and leaking metros,” explaining how people prefer groundbreakings and openings over the routine work of infrastructure maintenance. Because of this mindset, the cost of fixing the country’s aging infrastructure is estimated to be around $1 trillion over the next decade. An article in Forbes discussed the need to make infrastructure “sexy” again, emphasizing the tremendous importance that well-maintained infrastructure plays in our quality of life and overall competitiveness as a nation. An article in VICE News shone a light on U.S. rail infrastructure in comparison with the recent opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, underscoring the investment needs of our rail infrastructure. In order to improve our infrastructure and build a foundation for innovation, it is important that local, state and federal governments work together to find long-term, sustainable funding that will allow for such improvement.Infrastructure in the News: Let the Memorial Day Travel Woes Begin
May 27th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Memorial Day weekend has arrived, and with it a dramatic a reminder of the congested and worn out state of our surface transportation infrastructure. As people take to the roads in order to reach their Memorial Day weekend destinations, reports predict that congestion will be at an 11-year peak. According to AAA, more than 38 million Americans are expected to travel this Memorial Day weekend, and the agency credits this dramatic number to decreased gas prices. Air travel is also expected to increase 1.6 percent over last year, with 2.6 million Americans taking flights, but travel by other modes of transportation is expected to decrease by 2.3 percent. “What we’re seeing is that the demand for travel is greater than ever — but that leads to the question of whether our transportation infrastructure is equipped to support that job-creating activity,” said Roger Dow, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Travel Association. In response to the dubious question of whether our infrastructure can handle increased travel, the media continues to hone in on dire infrastructure conditions and investment needs. CNN published articles about bridge conditions, exposing 90-year-old beams that are disintegrating under bridges due to lack of maintenance, as well as rail systems, which are increasingly plagued with failing power cables. Clearly our surface infrastructure as a whole needs diligent attention. In order to improve our commutes and salvage our bridges and railroads from further damage, it is important that local, state and federal governments work together to find long-term, sustainable funding that will allow for such improvement.Infrastructure in the News: Issues abound during Infrastructure Week
May 20th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With Infrastructure Week raising awareness of the important role our roads, bridges, transit and water infrastructure play, this week’s news headlines have been powerful reminders of our need for further action. ASCE’s Failure to Act economic report continues to garner news headlines, emphasizing our infrastructure investment needs. CNBC, and C-SPAN covered the economic impact of failing to invest in infrastructure in our country, and the importance of all levels of government being involved in restoring it. Investment needs are seen in action every day when infrastructure breaks. Transit needs across the country are manifesting themselves through subway dysfunctions and disruptions. This week there was a large fire in the NYC subway that impacted thousands of train passengers’ morning commutes. The DC Metro released its SafeTrack Plan to address safety recommendations and repair the Metrorail system in an expedited timeframe. It is also no secret that deteriorating roads have a very real impact on our daily commutes. In an editorial this week, a Syracuse writer noted that it cost her nearly $200 to replace the right front tire on her car that blew out when she hit a pothole on her way to work. And AAA reported that 70 percent of motorists who plan on traveling this summer are concerned about poor roadway conditions or being stuck in traffic. As if that weren’t enough, a bridge collapsed in Oklahoma City because a truck driver did not realize he did not have sufficient clearance, causing road shutdowns and costing an estimated $50,000 in debris removal alone. Improving our nation’s infrastructure only comes when it is prioritized and properly funded. Even though Infrastructure Week, is coming to a close you can still share that #InfrastructureMatters by sending a letter to your elected officials.Infrastructure in the News: Transit, Roads and the Consequences of Inaction
May 13th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With Infrastructure Week around the corner, the release of ASCE’s most recent Failure to Act economic study, and more state action towards addressing infrastructure needs, this week has been significant for infrastructure awareness. Infrastructure Week is May 16-23, and will call attention to why #InfrastructureMatters through events, media coverage, and education and advocacy efforts. And as the new Failure to Act economic report reveals, our infrastructure is in need of increased investment and matters to the economy. Engineering News-Record, The Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported on the economic study, describing how infrastructure needs in the U.S. will exceed projected spending by $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years, and that surface transportation programs account for $1.1 trillion of the shortfall. A prime example of surface transportation needs is transit, where malfunctions continue to be a grueling source of anxiety for many commuters, especially in the nation’s capital where the Metro subway system has had problem after problem. The New York Times, Engineering News-Record, USA Today and the Washington Post all reported about Metro’s ongoing safety issues. On a lighter note, New Orleans can attest to the overt needs of surface transportation as some residents recently threw a “Sinkhole de Mayo” party to draw attention to a 30 ft. wide sinkhole in the middle of a highly traveled street. While this example pokes fun at our road issues, it reminds us that people are affected. Some states, like Iowa and Indiana have proposed funding plans to address their road and bridge needs in response to such high demand. The Failure to Act study warns of underinvestment, while the Metro’s woes and New Orleans’ sinkhole exemplify it. Share that #InfrastructureMatters during Infrastructure Week by joining this thunderclap and sending a letter to your elected officials.Infrastructure in the News: Dams, Potholes…
April 29th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
A new dam rehabilitation bill introduced in the Senate and continued attention to our nation’s water and surface infrastructure needs marked this week’s infrastructure headlines. The High Hazard Potential Small Dam Safety Act, a Senate bill sponsored by bipartisan lawmakers, would provide the first non-emergency federal grants to help local governments repair or replace aging dams to ensure public safety. The measure would provide $600 million of matching grants to states, local governments, and water districts over the next 10 years, with the federal program picking up 65% of the costs. We believe this act is a great step, as there are 85,000 dams in the U.S. and the average age is 52 years old. Dams aren’t the only facet of infrastructure that needs critical attention. According to Politico Magazine’s fifth national Mayors Survey, nearly 1 in 3 American mayors think that they may have already hurt their own citizens by making cost-saving decisions on critical infrastructure. According to the survey, the top concerns were roads and bridges, followed by water quality and pipe stability. However, mayors are struggling to find the money from their governors and states to properly address their infrastructure maintenance issues. Mayors aren’t the only ones who are fed up with deteriorating infrastructure. A Mississippi resident expressed his frustration with our beleaguered roads by actually throwing a local pothole a birthday party. After several local news outlets reported on the pothole party, city officials finally filled it in, and will proceed to pave the surrounding area. This action, though comedic, is telling of the level to which our nation is collectively frustrated with poor infrastructure. In a little under one month, we will celebrate Infrastructure Week to remind us all of the critical role that infrastructure plays in our economy, quality of life, safety and communities. You can support Infrastructure Week by sharing this thunderclap and remind everyone how #InfrastructureMatters.Infrastructure in the News: Invest Now or Pay Later
April 15th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Water and transit have each had their fair share of media attention this week. Water Week has highlighted our nation’s water infrastructure conditions and transit hearings and incidents are reinforcing investment needs. Water Week highlighted diverse needs across the country as more than 100 water and wastewater utility managers, operators and engineers visited Washington, D.C. to advocate for more federal investment in water infrastructure. There have been many articles about the state of our nation’s drinking water, water main ruptures, and water infrastructure overall, further pointing to the need for solid investment and maintenance. Transit needs also continue to dominate the news. While transit centers in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India and China are building new subways, subways in even our wealthiest cities are suffering from lack of maintenance. In our nation’s capital, the Metro subway system has been encountering many issues lately that have prompted Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to work towards a diligent plan of repair and maintenance. In order to provide adequate maintenance, Metro needs $25 billion over the next 10 years to run the system. Yet Congress denied Metro increased funding to put towards Metro repairs. It is important to have a holistic view of infrastructure, because poor transit and water infrastructure affects our competitiveness as a nation overall. An article in MSN explained how declining quality, reliability and safety of our transportation infrastructure affects business costs and job growth. In just a few weeks, ASCE will be releasing its updated Failure to Act Economic Study to reflect the latest numbers on how failing to invest in infrastructure is affecting our nation’s competitiveness. In order to meet the increasing demands of our nation’s water and transit needs, it is important that local, state and federal governments work together to find long-term, sustainable funding that will revitalize these sectors.
