Author Archive
Mexico Ramps Up Infrastructure Investment Over the Next 5 Years
July 18th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
This week Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announced an initiative to fund $300 billion dollars (4 trillion pesos) worth of infrastructure projects through 2018. The money will be used to extend highways, revitalize and extend both passenger and freight rail, and upgrade ports in Mexico to increase capacity and efficiency of handling. “Nobody can doubt that better infrastructure translates into more competitiveness and productivity, which will ignite economic growth and social well-being,” Peña Nieto said. “These are investments that will translate into jobs.” The new plan will bring Mexico’s infrastructure investment up to half a trillion dollars (6.25 trillion pesos) over the space of their last two infrastructure plans. Infrastructure areas slated to receive investment include:- Construct or upgrade 3,361 miles of highways
- 6 regional airport upgrades
- Several sea ports
- 3 intercity passenger railways
- New subway line for Monterrey
- Light passenger-train system for Guadalajara
Mr. Civil Engineer Goes to Washington
July 17th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Happy 4th of July, America! Baseball’s All-Star break is this week. These and more serve as reminders that we have reached the “mid-point” of the summer. Are your summer advocacy plans in place? If you are an ASCE member, you should start your advocacy plan by signing up for the next Key Contact Briefing Conference Call on July 23 with Rep. David McKinley, P.E., F.ASCE. An ASCE member since his days as a student at Purdue University, Rep. McKinley represents the 1st District of West Virginia and will join us on July 23 to share his experience as a civil engineer in Congress, and why it’s important for ASCE members to meet often with their elected officials to share the civil engineer’s take on issues. As Congress continues to wrestle with many challenges, ASCE members and infrastructure supporters of all backgrounds should make sure their elected leaders are informed about the conditions of our nation’s infrastructure, and the consequences we face if we continue to neglect its needs. ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure lays out these points on 16 different categories of infrastructure. In addition, ASCE Sections and Branches have released over 30 state and local Report Cards to provide a more localized picture of infrastructure conditions. This information is valuable when in the hands of decision-makers in Congress as they discuss issues such as the Water Resources Development Act, and the importance of preserving tax exemptions for municipal bonds to improve infrastructure in local communities. Learn how you can help your elected leaders make informed decisions about our infrastructure using ASCE’s Key Contact tools by joining Rep. McKinley and ASCE staff on July 23. Join us on July 23 at 1pm EDT/12noon CDT for “Bringing the Report Card to Elected Leaders”, the next Key Contact Briefing Conference Call, open to all ASCE members (a member login is required to register for the call.)House Approves Bill to Fund Corps of Engineers in FY 2014
July 15th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
The House approved a bill late last Wednesday that would fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works programs for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill, (H.R. 2609), calls for spending a total of $4.899 billion for Civil Works for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2013. It includes $1.573 billion for construction, $23 million more than the House Appropriations Committee approved in June. In June, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill with higher funding levels for Civil works programs. The Senate bill would provide $5.272 billion, which is $300 million above fiscal year 2013, for the Corps. Corps funding in the Senate bill would include $2.7 billion for operations and maintenance; $1.542 billion for construction; $300 million for the Mississippi River and Tributaries program; $200 million for the regulatory program; and $120 million for investigations. The bill has not been scheduled for action by the full Senate. The Senate bill proposes $1 billion for activities funded by the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, which will be used for improvements to navigation projects, including dredging harbors and channels, repairing dikes and jetties, and disposing of dredge material. The bill also would provide $380 million—$100 million above the president’s request—to carry on current flood control construction work. The House approved amendments by Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Joe Garcia (D-FL), and Stephen Lynch (D-MA) to add $23 million to the Corps’ construction account, increases that were matched by $23 million reductions in other Energy Department and Civil Works program accounts funded in the bill. Also included in the House bill are operation and maintenance programs to be funded at $2.682 billion; $249 million for projects in the Mississippi River and Tributary system; $90 million to study new projects; and $28 million for flood control and coastal emergency programs. The House approved an amendment by Rep. Mike. Kelly (R-PA) to prohibit the use of Corps funds to develop or submit a proposal to expand the authorized uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The House also approved an amendment by Scalise to prohibit the Corps from using appropriated funds to employ the “modified Charleston method” within the state of Louisiana for evaluating wetland losses. The Corps developed the “modified Charleston method” in 2002 to measure the functional loss of wetlands indirectly by considering the quality of wetland functions of the impacted site weighed against the perceived increases of wetland functions of a mitigation project. ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave U.S. inland waterways and ports a grade of D- and C, respectively. ASCE strongly supports investment in our nation’s aging and outdated ports and waterways. ASCE submitted testimony to the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee in March outlining recommended funding priorities for FY14.
Rough Time for State Activity
July 12th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
It’s been a rough couple weeks in state capitols for infrastructure advocates as four states – Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington – are struggling to enact major transportation funding proposals. Particularly disappointing is that in each state seems so close to the finish line. In Texas, the high profile filibuster over abortion legislation during a special session actually derailed several other bills including a proposal that could have dedicated $1 billion annually for road construction and maintenance. Several proposals are still currently receiving consideration in a second special session, and there is hope something may get passed. Some legislators have said they are concerned that voters would view the legislation as a complete solution for transportation funding instead of as a stopgap to keep transportation programs going until a bigger solution can be found. In Washington, the support of the Governor and the business community was not enough to convince Republican Senators to take up a $10 billion package. The proposal, which was passed by the House included a 10.5 cent increase in the gas tax to pay for projects including a replace I-5 bridge over the Columbia River into Oregon. The legislature’s adjournment without approving the package may have doomed the bridge project. Oregon already approved its $450 million portion of the funding plan for the project but without Washington’s portion, it appears unlikely that $850 million in matching federal funds would be forthcoming. Pennsylvania lawmakers adjourned for the summer without passing a $2 billion package that included an increase in the state’s wholesale fuel tax. House members could not agree to the package passed by the Senate and both parties are blaming each other for derailing the bill. The issue may be reconsidered the fall, but legislators on seem to be far apart on how to proceed at this point. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick vowed Thursday to veto a transportation finance plan supported by the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate if makes it to his desk in its current form. The governor argues that the bill, which includes $500 million in higher taxes on cigarettes and gasoline, does not raise enough money to upgrade and expand crumbling roads, rails, and bridges. He wants legislators to raise the gas tax even higher. Despite these setbacks over the last couple weeks, it’s been an encouraging year at the state level. Legislatures in as many as 18 states have considered increased infrastructure funding, including politically unpopular gas tax increases. Major funding plans have been passed this year in Maryland, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. In many cases the efforts have been bipartisan.Electrical Transmission 101
July 11th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
…..On Tuesday, electrical transmission and distribution experts gathered for what they termed “Electric Transmission 101”. Emphasized in the presentations were the system limitations faced by our electrical grid, as well as issues regarding generation, transmission, and supply. Currently, our electrical grid is lacking in many areas. It is inadequate to connect rich sources of renewable energy in the central U.S. and offshore to areas of high demand elsewhere. Because of the difficulty in rerouting electricity, there was a general emphasis by the speakers on the need to prioritize system planning and development. . …..The United States is divided into three basic electrical regions. These include the Midwest and Eastern parts of the country, Texas, and West of the Rocky Mountains. The two coasts, due to their high populations, consume the greatest amount of electricity and are particularly vulnerable to any problems in the grid. Blackouts and other grid problems typically arise from issues related to overheating, or disruptions in the system (high summer demand from AC units causing blackouts). Because each region is highly interconnected, structural failures have the potential to create widespread issues that affect millions. . …..Jeff Dennis, Director of Policy Development at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said that a “robust national electrical system is key to competitive markets”. While the needs are nation-wide, the responsibility for planning, siting, and building the actual infrastructure often falls to state and local governments, further increasing the need for a more integrated system. Electricity prices are driven primarily by system costs, so if investment into our electrical infrastructure is increased, many users could actually see monthly bills fall as the system became more reliable. . …..The needs faced by what Wayne Galli of Clean Line Energy Partners described as “the largest, most complex, machine ever designed by man” are great, but by investing in it now, we can provide stable energy at lower costs for decades to come.U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Water Council Is Looking For Every Drop
July 3rd, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
We joined the US Conference of Mayors last week to promote our 2013 Report Card, and being in sunny, dry Las Vegas, water was top of mind for many of the mayors in attendance. Besides being confident that their water is the best tasting in the nation, mayors at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council voiced concern at the lack of response to what they see as trends changing the U.S. entire approach to water from policy to practice. Water resources and efficient management were called out as emerging issues that every city should be focusing on. The City of Irving, Texas’ mayor highlighted their city’s ongoing struggle to handle population growth with drought conditions and noted the recent Supreme Court case pitting Texas vs Oklahoma on water rights that will force mayors to become more focused in how to make the most of their resources in the most sustainable manner possible. However Texas isn’t the only place to see drought conditions or limitations on available water sources , mayors from Iowa and others in the midwest also spoke up regarding their long-term struggle with these issues. So how are they making the most of their resources in the most sustainable manner possible? Reuse for grounds- Parks, recreation facilities, and lawns can be set up to use rainwater or greywater rather than sending this back into the water system for treatment. Treat water differently- adding new technology and harnessing nature to handle treatment in an environmentally conscious way or look to R&D to find new processes and methods like changing the order of the processing of sludge so it doesn’t require as many chemicals. Implement technology with competition- Shifting water meters from manual reads to automated reads and using one platform to get several vendors to compete for work combines both technology and competition to meet needs and curb costs. For one city, this saved about $6M! Fix the leaks- almost 30% to 40% of water is lost in many systems and new pressure control valves and other monitoring systems can help bring this number down and save cities money on both operations and lost product.45 Cities Join to Launch Resilient Communities for America Initiative
July 2nd, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Last week, the National Press Club hosted the launch of the Resilient Communities for America campaign. Forty-five mayors and county leaders have signed the agreement, pledging to invest to make towns and communities more resilient in the wake of increasingly severe weather. Mayors of many prominent cities such as Denver, San Diego, Washington, D.C., Sacramento, Des Moines, and El Paso have committed themselves to focus on resilience. Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara County, CA, noted that America “must be able to plan, anticipate, and adapt” to extreme weather to protect our towns.
American cities are facing more and more droughts, floods, power outages, and hurricanes. Cities such as Des Moines, Iowa have suffered from strings of alternating severe droughts and floods. They experienced three near-500 year floods in 2010 alone, suffered widespread drought in 2012, and are now in the midst of the wettest season in 140 years of recorded history. Even those communities who for years have made themselves more resilient to brace against tropical storms and hurricanes are in need of greater measures. In light of crumbling seawalls and the need for regular beach nourishment to prevent erosion in many beach communities, coastal areas are more vulnerable than ever to powerful storms.
Resilient Communities for America requires signatories to self-impose goals for achieving greater resilience based on their individual situations. However, several partner groups such as the National League of Cities, World Wildlife Fund, and U.S. Green Building Council have agreed to provide free technical resources to the cities in order to achieve their goals. Vulnerable cities are investing in innovative techniques such as salinity barriers to prevent contamination of fresh groundwater, better coordination after disasters, and achieving a balance between growth and environmental responsibility to limit catastrophes. This new program emphasizes coordination, cooperation, and investment at all levels of government. Mr. Anthony said that while local actions need to be taken, a regional and national approach to resilience is essential for success. Cooperation is vital, he says, because these “challenges do not stop at city lines”.
Sprawl is No Joke
July 1st, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
I recently caught this article from The Atlantic, The Devastating Impact of 30 Years of Sprawl, As Seen From Space. Pretty crazy stuff, huh? Sprawl is one of those things that happen so gradually it is hard to notice in your day-to-day life. This article shows the use of GIF’s just what is happening not only in the United States but in locations around the world. I am not saying that development is bad, OVER development is bad. Poor planning is bad. As long as development incorporates appropriate urban scale and form, diversity of land use and good engineering design to achieve a balance between the interests of the individual, the community and the natural and built environments all should be well. Sustainability also comes to mind. Specifically the idea that, “Infrastructure systems must be designed to protect the natural environment and withstand both natural and man-made hazards, using sustainable practices, to ensure that future generations can use and enjoy what we build today, as we have benefited from past generations”. That comes straight from the Key Solutions section of the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. I know the civil engineers that I work with keep to those principals, let’s hope every does the world over.Oklahoma Infrastructure Business and Policy Leaders Come Together
June 28th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Today, June 28th, co-chair of Building America’s Future and former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell joined Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, ASCE and the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce to praise efforts at the state and local level in addressing infrastructure challenges. At the policy forum in Oklahoma City, Rendell and Cornett noted that while leadership on the national level has stalled, governors and mayors across the country are making strides with new laws in four states designed to increase transportation funding this year. Speakers at the forum all agreed that Washington must act on a long-term infrastructure plan in order to keep the U.S. competitive and to improve the quality of life for all Americans. “As a former Governor, I love that states and cities are tackling these tough issues. Prioritizing repairs, building smarter electrical grids, and creating private-public partnerships are all wise investments for communities. But cities and states cannot do it alone,” said Rendell. “Make no mistake, we need the federal government to step up and fund the projects that are regionally and nationally significant. For far too long, the federal government has failed to act. That cost of inaction is tremendous and as a result, we’re falling behind our global competitors.” Policy forums such as these serve as a tremendous opportunity for leaders and experts to share ideas and discuss specific challenges. As you well know, earlier this year, ASCE released the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which awarded our nation’s infrastructure a D+. Simply, poor roads and bridges drive up the cost of doing business. Likewise, our ailing ports and waterway systems hurt our ability to compete in a global marketplace. It is clear that if we want to stay economically competitive, we must take immediate action. We applaud Mayor Cornett, Governor Rendell, Building America’s Future, the OKC Chamber, and all who came out today to support infrastructure investment. Only through working together and building an impassioned collation can we hope to raise our infrastructure grade, improve our economy, and build sustainable communities for future generations. Watch the event video here.Phoenix Joins Cities Nationwide Trying Out Bike Share Programs
June 18th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
On June 5th, the Phoenix City Council awarded a contract to CycleHop, LLC, to manage the city’s new bike share program that is expected to be rolled out by December 2013. This announcement comes shortly after New York City implemented its own bike sharing program, known as Citi Bike. New York has spread 6,000 bikes across the city, available to the general public for rent. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan have invested heavily in cycling, installing over 350 miles of new bike lanes throughout the island. Intended to supplement existing transit systems, New York City and Phoenix have designed bike share systems that will give residents a wider variety of options to get around their city, to and from work, and facilitate the community of cyclists growing across the nation. “The bike culture is growing in Phoenix, and the City of Phoenix must play a role in ensuring that our roads are safe and accessible for the cycling community. Residents want choices when it comes to how they get around. The continued development of our light rail system in combination with improving Phoenix’s bike infrastructure will provide sustainable options” said Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos. Across the country, biking is emerging as a safe, cheap, and reliable means of transportation. In New York, there are now a total of over 700 miles of bike lanes, cycling accidents and fatalities are down 75% since 2000, and memberships will cost as little as ten dollars. In many cities with similar programs, membership is high and rapidly expanding. Bikes are typically rented for a flat rate, with charges often beginning after a certain time elapses, typically capping at $25 per day. In addition to Phoenix’s planned project, there are 9 other major cities with bike sharing programs, including Washington DC, New York, Miami, Chicago, and Denver. When New York rolled out its program, Mayor Bloomberg noted that over half of all trips in the city were less than two miles. Giving people an alternative to taxis or personal cars will reduce traffic, reduce wear and tear on the roads themselves, and create jobs associated with the program.
Photo Courtesy of Social Bicycles
