Author Archive
Infrastructure in the News: Investing in how we move people and goods
April 8th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Airline legislation, port investment and more states vocalizing the need for infrastructure investment mark this week’s infrastructure headlines. According to The Hill, the long-term reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs overcame a major hurdle Wednesday. The Senate’s reauthorization bill would green-light FAA programs through September 2017, addressing airport security issues and more. In addition to addressing aviation needs, this week has thrust a major spotlight on the value and investment needs of our nation’s ports. This week the American Association of Port Authorities announced that its members intend to spend over $150 billion in combined infrastructure investments by 2020. The association’s president and CEO, Kurt Nangle, said that “infrastructure investments in America’s seaports and their intermodal connections—both on the land and in the water—are in our nation’s best interest because they provide opportunities to bolster our economy, create and sustain jobs, enhance our international competitiveness.” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx expanded about the importance of ports in our nation’s competitiveness, asserting how the looming population growth will affect our freight patterns and flows, which will in turn spill over into our roads and highways. He reiterates how much our ports and highways are interconnected, and both need to be modernized and expanded in order to serve our nation’s needs properly. Many states are taking steps to increase infrastructure funding, either through legislation to raise their state gas tax or expressing their frustration with the state of their own roads and bridges. In Illinois, lawmakers are considering raising the gas tax to better maintain roads—a key part of the state’s economy given its location and use as a freight thoroughfare. In Alabama, lawmakers are looking to increase the state’s gas by six cents, costing the average driver five dollars more per month, and vow to put every dime to road improvements. This week TRIP released a report on Oklahoma’s roads, finding it costs drivers in the state $4.9 billion a year because of higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes and congestion-related delays, strongly indicating the state’s need to increase funding. Many other states, like California, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and more are voicing increased discontentment with their roads and bridges and are continuing conversations about a solution. In order to meet the increasing demands of our nation’s road, bridge and port needs, it is important to find a long-term, sustainable funding source for surface transportation before the FAST Act expires.Infrastructure in the News: Transit, Aviation
April 1st, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Massive transit repairs, aviation reform and increased desire for innovation mark this week’s infrastructure headlines. After discussion about the D.C. subway system’s much-needed maintenance, Metro’s top officials warned the public that they may shut down entire rail lines for as long as six months. While this situation could cause inconvenience and frustration, it stands as another in a very long list of examples of the need to invest in our nation’s infrastructure. Chicago’s transit authority underwent a similar reconstruction in 2014, shutting down their red line for five months, where they invested $425 million into rebuilding 10.2 miles of rail. This ultimately resulted in increased ridership and shaved off travel time for riders. It is encouraging that transit authorities are taking time to address these issues. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported on Monday that U.S. airlines and foreign airlines serving the U.S. carried an all-time high number of passengers in 2015. It is critical, therefore, that our airports are prepared to support this growing number of passengers. The Senate Commerce Committee is making steady progress on a potential bipartisan version of FAA reauthorization legislation. When the Senate returns next week, it could be among the legislation considered by the full chamber. While maintenance for transit, aviation and our roads and bridges may not be as glamorous as new innovations, it is critical to remember that existing infrastructure needs to be coupled with new innovations. For example, self-driving cars are reportedly having issues driving on our beleaguered roads, and in some cases are unable to operate because they can’t recognize the faded road markings. It is important that all levels of government demonstrate leadership and look for ways to ensure that our aging infrastructure gets the investment it warrants nationwide.Infrastructure in the News: Transit issues escalate, water needs rise
March 25th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
The past two weeks have been packed with infrastructure crises and attention—as our nation’s water and transit have received both media attention and public scrutiny. Last week, the nation’s second busiest subway system, the D.C. Metro, shut down for one full day in order to undergo thorough inspection due to electrical malfunctions. CBS reported that Metro identified 26 areas where damaged jumper cables and connector boots exist. The abundance of damaged cables reveal a lack of investment. “We need to invest in our system once and for all. We need to establish the dedicated funding source,” said Jack Evans, Metro chair. While the D.C. metro’s maintenance needs are pressing, this is just one example of transit needs nationwide. The BART System in San Francisco also experienced service disruptions that led to a flurry of frustrated tweets from users. BART decided to explain that the system, built more than 40 years ago, was not designed to carry the number of passengers who take it today. The Twitter handle went on to highlight the need to increase investment in order to allow the system to function at its best. Aside from transit woes, our nation’s water infrastructure needs remain in the headlines. March 22 was World Water Day, where the White House and 150 other institutions pledged more than $5 billion to improve water accessibility and quality across the nation. The recent Flint tragedy reminds us just how important water is to our communities—and yet how fragile our nation’s water infrastructure is. CNBC reported that our water crises goes beyond Flint, and EPA data shows that only nine states are reporting safe levels of lead in their water supply. The Hill reported on the condition of our nation’s water infrastructure, showing how drinking water contamination, water scarcity, and beleaguered ports and waterways make water one of the nation’s most critical issues. Whether it’s transit or water issues, the common denominator behind these pressing needs is lack of investment. On ABC’s television show “Scandal” Thursday night, character Mellie Grant even made reference to the need to increase investment through the gas tax to #FixTheTrustFund. It is important that all levels of government demonstrate leadership and look for ways to ensure the maximum funding possible for our aging infrastructure nationwide.Infrastructure in the News: Spring coming, increased need for infrastructure funding
March 11th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With warmer weather approaching and spring around the bend, the dismal state of our nation’s infrastructure funding is being reflected as several states figure out how to deal with their beleaguered infrastructure in light of dwindling funds. Infrastructure has also been a topic of discussion to pay attention to in the presidential debates. An article in Bustle breaks down each presidential candidate’s mentions about infrastructure thus far in their debates. While each candidate may not have a robust plan of action, the state of our nation’s infrastructure is an issue worthy of discussion at the presidential debate level. States like Wisconsin, are recognizing the dramatic level to which their infrastructure needs attention, as a study ranks their state’s roads as fourth worst in the nation. New Jersey faces a similar dilemma, as the Federal Highway Administration ranks NJ’s bridges within the top 10 worst in the nation for percentage of deficient bridges, with a third of them in need of attention. Alabama businesses have also been vocal about their need for infrastructure repairs, with the Alliance for Alabama’s Infrastructure (AAI) heralding the cry to prioritize funding infrastructure. And in California, about 225 transportation projects are threatened by the state’s latest decision to reduce the State Transportation Improvement Plan by $754 million this year. In the Bay Area alone, seven transportation projects are likely to lose funding and be delayed for years. In light of this, states have been continuing to take funding action, as shown in a list from Equipment World Magazine listing the states that have increased their gas taxes in the past year to fund their transportation improvements. In order to ensure the maximum funding possible for our much-needed infrastructure investment nationwide, it is important to find a long-term, sustainable funding source for surface transportation before the FAST Act expires.Infrastructure in the News:DC Bridge Latest Victim of Underinvestment
March 4th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
This week marks the 80th birthday of the Hoover Dam, which is a prominent example of an invaluable infrastructure landmark that has stood the test of time. The Hoover Dam reminds us of the benefits of investing in quality infrastructure. Unfortunately, another iconic piece of infrastructure was also in the news this week because it hasn’t been getting the investment it needs. The Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., needs to be reconstructed at a cost of $250 million or it will be closed by 2021. Currently, the park service does not have the money needed to make the improvements. “The bridge is a really good example of what happens when you defer maintenance,” park service director Jonathan Jarvis told The Associated Press. “If the park service had had the funding over the lifespan this past 80 years, we probably could have extended the life of the bridge.” In order to prevent bridge closures and emergency repairs, our infrastructure needs a long-term, sustainable funding solution, rather than a one-time infusion that only lasts a few years. An article in Engineering News-Record explained the dismal future of the Highway Trust Fund if Congress does not use the coming years to find a solution. Lack of investment also leads to costly fixes and high out-of-pocket expenses for drivers. TRIP, a national transportation research group, estimated the cost to drivers is $516 per year. According to AAA, potholes alone cost drivers $15 billion during the past five years, and TRIP reported that commuter delays add up to more trips to the gas pump, costing drivers time and an additional $121 billion in wasted fuel. In order to curb some of these costs and rejuvenate our economy, it is important to find a long-term, sustainable funding source for surface transportation before the FAST Act expires.Infrastructure in the News: Public Weighs In on Water and Roads
February 26th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With water infrastructure being a hot topic for the past few months, the Value of Water Coalition released poll results on citizens’ attitudes towards water, revealing that the public believes more needs to be done about our water infrastructure. The Value of Water’s poll findings, recapped in the Huffington Post, show that the majority of Americans want public officials to invest in the nation’s water systems in an effort to avoid tragedies like the lead contamination crisis in Flint. Furthermore, 60 percent of Americans are in favor or paying more to invest in water infrastructure. Circle of Blue released an infographic that shows the percent of current water mains installed by decade, with many dating back to the Civil War era. The graph gives a stunning visual to accompany the fact that an estimated $1 trillion is needed over the next two decades to replace aging water pipes. While the poll results show Americans are willing to pay more to improve our infrastructure, a new report finds that investment in infrastructure at the state and local level is at a 30-year low. The Fiscal Times lays out the key findings of the report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, including a chart that compares capital investments by state. On the transportation front, The Hill reported that Americans drove a record 3.1 trillion miles in 2015, which accounts for much of the wear-and-tear of our roads and highways. This underscores the increased need for investment in transportation. Drivers in Colorado, New Jersey, California, Ohio, New York, and states across America are all feeling the damage done by potholes. Rough road conditions have become so normal that, according to Wired magazine, Ford motor company is adapting the way they build vehicles to endure rougher road conditions. As the new data shows, Americans are willing to make the investment in water, just as studies over the past year prove drivers are willing to pay a bit more to drive on better roads. Now it’s time for our elected leaders at all levels of government to respond to these pleas by making the investment to modernize our infrastructure.Infrastructure in the News: Bridges, Potholes and Tire Damage, Oh My!
February 19th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
This week has been one of reflection on our nation’s bridges, potholes and transportation needs and planning needed to best address these needs at the state level. An article in USA Today featured the progress being made, thanks to the attention towards our nation’s bridges. ARTBA reported that nearly 10 percent of the country’s bridges last year were considered structurally deficient and needed repairs. This is progress from 2014, but there is still a ways to go to get to the 8% by 2020 that the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure recommends. Bridges are not the only concern for drivers. A new study from the American Automobile Association said that pothole damage cost U.S. drivers $15 billion in vehicle repairs over the last five years. “The problems range from tire punctures and bent wheels, to more expensive suspension damage,” John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of automotive engineering and repair, said in a statement. According to the study, two-thirds of Americans are concerned about potholes on local roadways—further evident in Ford’s announcement of pothole protection technology—and the average American driver pays around $300 to repair pothole damage. Bridges and roads are critical to our nation for more than personal safety; they also play a huge role in supporting our nation’s businesses. MBA Central recently released an infographic breaking down how the latest surface transportation bill, the FAST Act, impacts our nation’s businesses. The infographic addresses how each category of infrastructure, as categorized in ASCE’s infrastructure report card, plays into the day-to-day productivity of businesses. Because infrastructure plays such a supporting role in our day-to-day lives and the overall economy, states continue to craft ways to fill in the gaps where the FAST Act is not providing enough funds to repair their infrastructure. For example, lawmakers in Delaware are proposing a 10-cent gas tax increase, Nebraska is proposing an infrastructure bank, and Tennessee is adopting a 25-year, $8.5 billion transportation plan to cover infrastructure costs. While these state-level steps are encouraging, it is still important that elected leaders at the federal level continue to prioritize investment into the backbone of our economy. As Vice President Biden has been saying all week, we need good infrastructure to keep America competitive.Infrastructure in the News: The Domino Effect of Water Infrastructure
February 12th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Recent events, including water main breaks, have renewed attention in our nation’s pipes, sewers, and dams and this week Members of Congress focused on different aspects of our water delivery and water resources infrastructure. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, John Duncan and Richard Hanna introduced the Water Investment Trust Fund Act, a bipartisan bill that will provide a source of revenue to help states replace, repair and rehabilitate critical clean drinking water facilities. Water infrastructure issues can have a domino effect in a community. Last year alone, American communities suffered more than 240,000 water main breaks and saw overflowing combined sewer systems, causing contamination, property damage, disruptions in the water supply, and massive traffic jams. Thus this bill addresses water infrastructure with the intention of alleviating some of these issues. One example of the challenge that comes when a pipe bursts is in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The frigid weather coupled with the gushing water created a blanket of ice for one neighborhood. In addition to drinking water facilities, dams also play a critical role in our daily lives—even if they’re often out of sight, and out of mind. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the biggest source of renewable energy in the U.S. is hydropower, making up nearly half of the U.S.’ renewable energy in 2014. Yet the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has classified about 14,000 of those dams as “high hazard potential.” To repair and update just the high-hazard dams, the Association of State Dam Safety Officials estimates it would cost $21 billion. An article in Tech Insider features a map that shows the country’s dams color coded by how hazardous they are and points to the need for the National Dam Safety Program to be authorized. Alabama is the only state without a dam safety program, meaning their state’s dams have not been inventoried since the 1970s. As our water infrastructure, in all of its forms, continues to age, we must invest in it. Therefore, it is critical that elected leaders at the federal, state and local levels continue to prioritize investment into the backbone of our economy.Infrastructure in the News: Big Week for Aviation and Water
February 5th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
This week improving our nation’s aviation and water infrastructure were the focus of conversation on Capitol Hill. With a new aviation reform bill, the Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act, proposed to Congress, the nation’s aviation needs are receiving some attention that’s long overdue. According to the bill’s author, Rep. Bill Shuster, two-thirds of our 20 largest airport hubs experience delays, and the economic costs of congestion and delays, including the impacts on passengers, top $30 billion per year. The AIRR Act would reauthorize the nation’s civil aviation programs, including air traffic control and infrastructure funding. Of most interest to ASCE, the bill increases authorized funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to $3.8 billion by 2022. This would be the first funding growth for the AIP in over a decade, which is much needed to improve the country’s “D” grade for aviation. On a different front, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), John Duncan (R-TN) and Richard Hanna (R-NY) introduced the bipartisan Water Investment Trust Fund Act, which would provide funding to replace, repair and rehabilitate critical wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. ASCE will be working with member of Congress to advance this legislation. As our infrastructure ages, we need to continue to invest in it. Therefore, it is critical that elected leaders at the federal, state and local levels continue to prioritize investment into the backbone of our economy.Infrastructure in the News: Innovation Sends Snow Packing
January 29th, 2016 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With winter storm Jonas blasting the Northeast with record-setting amounts of snow, our nation’s already stressed water pipes, roofs and roads were put to the test. While major snow events bring many challenges, they also provide opportunities for innovation. One innovation, coined by The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Chris Tuan, is a special concrete mixture that is designed to heat up and melt any snow or ice that settles on it. But Tuan is not the only groundbreaker. A family in N.J. developed its own geothermal solar snow-melt system that applies heat to the driveway and walkways to melt snow. In response to the havoc cold temps can cause on water mains and potholes, a team of innovators in Syracuse, N.Y. has taken steps toward installing magnetic sensors in their water pipes to reduce water main breaks, and is working with a company that has developed technology to map the city’s road deficiencies. Because the FAST Act will only provide limited funds for infrastructure maintenance, there is still great need for new ways to fund infrastructure. Because of this funding gap, many states are seeking ways to generate funding they need for projects. California is moving ahead with a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) program that will involve 5,000 driver volunteers who track their mileage and pay taxes based on miles driven rather than how many gallons of gas they consume. And Alabama and Oregon are considering raising their state gas tax to generate more funding for infrastructure projects.s With intense winter weather wearing on our roads and water infrastructure and increased need for funding, it is still critical that elected leaders at the federal, state and local levels continue to prioritize investment into the backbone of our economy.
