Infrastructure in the News: September 9, 2011
BAF IN THE NEWS
Infrastructurist: Obama’s Jobs Bill: Heavy on Infrastructure, But Heavy Enough?
Ed Rendell, former Pennsylvania Governor and co-founder of Building America’s Future (and Infrastructurist contributor), was pretty clear in his opinions during yesterdays 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit at the Newseum in D.C. “It’s not big enough,” he said to a packed house during a panel on American resilience and rebuilding. According to Rendell’s and BAF’s estimates, each $1 billion invested in infrastructure produces 25,000 “well-paid” jobs on construction sites and in factories.
For Construction Pros: Needed: A Vision
And now Building America's Future (BAF) Educational Fund, a national and bipartisan coalition of state and local elected officials, has issued a report, "Falling Apart and Falling Behind," that explores how our poor infrastructure is not only bad for congestion and wear-and-tear on our cars, but that it's causing the U.S. to seriously fall behind the rest of the world.
NATIONAL NEWS
New York Times: In I-Bank Debate, States Provide Successful Model
Obama first talked about creating a national infrastructure bank on the campaign trail and has not let up on the proposal since taking office. His most recent budget proposal included a $30 billion transportation bank that would offer large loans to regional projects. In a July news conference, he reiterated his support for the idea, which is expected to be part of the jobs package.
The Christian Science Monitor: The highway to jobs – via better infrastructure
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0908/The-highway-to-jobs-via-better-infrastructure
As Obama and Congress talk jobs, here's an appeal from the US Chamber of Commerce: Invest heavily in roads, air transport, and other infrastructure. The economy and jobs depend on it. Adopt innovative financing, including an infrastructure bank to leverage private investment.
CNET: Stressed commuters turning to public transit, tech
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20103280-54/stressed-commuters-turning-to-public-transit-tech/
If you're getting stressed-out by your commute, you're not alone, according to an IBM survey which found more people amenable to using public transit and technology to improve their daily transportation. IBM today published the results from its annual commuter sentiment study which found the transportation infrastructure is improving but "commuter pain" is increasing.
STATE NEWS
Opelika Auburn News: Rebuild American infrastructure now
http://www2.oanow.com/news/2011/sep/08/rebuild-american-infrastructure-now-ar-2379169/
What we need now is a jobs program to invest in infrastructure. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 26 percent of bridges in Alabama are structurally deficient or obsolete. ASCE also notes that Alabama’s ports are the 13th busiest in the nation, and travel on Alabama’s highways increased 45 percent between 1990 and 2007. Alabama is in need of investment in infrastructure.
Charleston Gazette: Local groups show opposition to transportation cuts
http://wvgazette.com/News/201109071177
If Republicans in the House of Representatives succeed in their efforts to impose major cuts on federal transportation funding, those cuts will have a major impact on jobs, as well as on the safety of our roads and bridges in West Virginia and throughout the country.
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National Governors Association, 2009 Get The Facts
Our nation's infrastructure includes approximately 4 million miles of roads.
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California
Gavin Newsom
Lieutenant Governor
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