Infrastructure in the News: September 29, 2011
NATIONAL NEWS
Infrastructurist: Shovel-Ready Series: The Five Non-Highway Projects We Should Build Now
The need for job-creation has become critical, and the President has said he wants to use infrastructure to accomplish it — specifically, by offering federal funding to projects in order to get them underway. But which projects? And where? Last week, we covered a list of bridges that the government should make a priority (assuming the White House’s jobs bill passes). But there are plenty of non-roadway projects that could yield thousands of jobs, not to mention countless opportunities for business creation and economic growth. Here are our top five.
Huffington Post: 10 States With The Most Deficient Bridges: CAP
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/10-states-with-the-most-deficient-bridges_n_985463.html
Indeed, currently there are roughly 150,000 bridges in America deemed “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete” by the Federal Highway Administration, the Center for American Progress notes. Of those, 68,000 lie within only ten states. Not making necessary bridge repairs can have real and very tragic consequences. In August 2007, for example, a bridge in Minnesota crowded with rush hour traffic collapsed, killing 13.
Washington Post: Biggest spending cuts by city governments in one chart
A new report from the National League of Cities takes a close look at how the recession has shrunk city budgets, forcing them to make layoffs, roll back infrastructure projects, and make cuts to public services. Budgets have shrunk through two channels.
STATE NEWS
Fast Lane: Work begins on Montgomery, Alabama's Outer Loop bringing construction jobs, congestion relief, economic opportunities
Yesterday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez visited a project that will do exactly that. He joined Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and other state and local officials to kick off construction on the Montgomery Outer Loop, a roadway that will relieve congestion and improve traffic and freight movement throughout the area.
KTUU: Secretary LaHood Talks Transportation With Alaskans
http://articles.ktuu.com/2011-09-28/alaska-visit_30215252
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood spent day two of his Alaska visit discussing major transportation issues and concerns with Alaskans. At the University of Alaska Anchorage's aviation center on Wednesday, Secretary LaHood and Sen. Mark Begich heard from aviation experts on issues from air safety to airport infrastructure in rural areas of the state.
STL Today: Editorial: Nation's infrastructure investment shouldn't ignore river needs
A key element to that $447 billion plan is $50 billion for rebuilding roads, railways and airports, and another $10 billion to create a fund for other important national infrastructure projects. One element that doesn't get much attention is a transportation element very important to the St. Louis area: the Mississippi River.
-
Progressive Policy Institute, 2009 Get The Facts
The United States spends less than China and Europe on infrastructure.
- Ohio Bill Monoghan County Commissioner, Erie County View All
