Infrastructure in the News: January 19, 2012

NATIONAL NEWS

Fast Lane: My message to the US Conference of Mayors: Let's put Americans to work rebuilding our economic foundation

http://fastlane.dot.gov/2012/01/us-conference-of-mayors.html

Last September, the U.S. Conference of Mayors released its Common-Sense Jobs Agenda, calling on Congress to take a few simple steps to help create American jobs. As Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said, “U.S. cities are where much of the nation’s job creation begins.” Among other priorities, the nation's mayors said, "The time is now to invest in infrastructure jobs." And this Administration agreed wholeheartedly.  In fact, just a few days later, President Obama introduced the American Jobs Act to a joint session of Congress.

Orlando Sentinel: U.S. mayors call for infrastructure spending and protection of grant programs

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_blogonomics/2012/01/u-s-mayors-call-for-infrastructure-spending-and-protection-of-grant-programs.html

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is out with a new report that describes the economic beat down American cities endured at the hands of the Great Recession. The goal of the report is to remind lawmakers that U.S. cities drive the economy, and that cuts in federal aid and legislative gridlock hurt the nation’s economic engine.

The Tennessean: Highway reauthorization bill is critical for our economy

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120119/OPINION02/120118030/Highway-reauthorization-bill-critical-our-economy

The need for Congress to pass a multi-year highway reauthorization bill before the end of the current extension of the lawMarch 31 cannot be overstated. The unemployment rate in the construction sector is significantly above the national average — two million construction-related jobs have been lost since the recession began. The series of short-term extensions since September 2009 has made it impossible for American businesses to plan for the future — now we’re continuing to lose jobs and are putting our economy at risk.

Trucking Info: Booz Allen: America Needs to 'Reimagine' Infrastructure

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=75812&news_category_id=3

As the nation prepares for Obama's 2012 State of the Union address, Booz Allen Hamilton, a strategy and technology consulting firm, outlined items it says should be included in any discussion about the country's aging infrastructure. "There is consensus across the political spectrum that infrastructure is critical to economic development, job creation, national security and competitiveness," says Mark Gerencser, Booz Allen's executive vice president. "But a lack of harmony in the political process is limiting our ability to accomplish the big things that are required to re-build America's infrastructure."

STATE NEWS

KPCC: Governor Jerry Brown pushes tax increase, greater infrastructure investment in State of the State

http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/01/18/30856/governor-pushes-tax-increase-and-greater-investmen/

In Gov. Jerry Brown's State of the State address, he urged support for investments in high-speed rail and the state’s water supply, along with a temporary tax hike to prevent deep cuts to public education. Brown said “California’s on the mend” and is ready to take on new challenges. Brown declared that critics who predict California’s collapse have it all wrong. "Yes, it is fair to say that California is turbulent, less predictable and, well... different," he told his Sacramento audience. "Yet, look at the facts."

Times-Picayune: Louisiana's infrastructure is in trouble, engineering society says

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/01/state_infrastructure_graded_be.html

The state's infrastructure has not been adequately maintained and is below average in most areas, according to a report released today by the Louisiana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. The report, in the form of a report card in nine areas of infrastructure, shows the state scored above average in two: dams, where it got a grade of B minus, and in solid waste systems, where it received a grade of C plus.

The State: Democratic State of the State response

http://www.thestate.com/2012/01/18/2119145/democratic-state-of-the-state.html

All across our state, South Carolina’s roads and bridges are crumbling. Rather than follow the examples of Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin who have brought millions of dollars in critical infrastructure investment to South Carolina or Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela meeting the people’s need for new highway, water and sewer infrastructure, the Republican Party line has consistently criticized efforts to invest in our state through an Infrastructure Bank.

Post and Courier: Interstate 26 project to create 14,000 jobs

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2012/jan/18/interstate-project-to-create-14k-jobs/

Interstate 26 near Summerville will be widened and a new interchange built to spur port-related business that is expected to create thousands of jobs, said state Rep. Chip Limehouse. On Tuesday, the State Infrastructure Bank board voted unanimously to approve $15 million for the project to widen two miles of the interstate to six lanes up to Jedburg. A new interchange will be built at Sheep Island Road for port shipper business, said Limehouse, R-Charleston, and a member of the board.