US Infrastructure Gets C- From Engineers As Roads Stagnate

[appalachiablue]

Source: AP News

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — America’s infrastructure has scored near-failing grades for its deteriorating roads, public transit and storm water systems due to years of inaction from the federal government, the American Society of Civil Engineers reports. Its overall grade: a mediocre C-.

In its “Infrastructure Report Card” released Wednesday, the group called for “big and bold” relief, estimating it would cost $5.9 trillion over the next decade to bring roads, bridges and airports to a safe and sustainable level. That’s about $2.6 trillion more than what government and the private sector already spend.

“America’s infrastructure is not functioning as it should, and families are losing thousands of dollars a year in disposable income as a result of cities having to fix potholes, people getting stuck in traffic or due to repairs when a water line breaks or the energy grid goes down,” said Greg DiLoreto, one of the group’s past presidents. “It’s critical we take action now,” he said, expressing optimism that the federal government is now making it a “top priority.”

During Donald Trump’s four years in the White House, his administration often held “Infrastructure Week” events and touted transportation improvements. But it was not able to push Congress to pass any broad plan to update the nation’s roads and bridges, rails and airports. The overall C- grade on America’s infrastructure — reflecting a “mediocre” condition with “significant deficiencies” — is a slight improvement from its D+ grade in 2017...

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/technology-storms-coronavirus-pandemic-austin-texas-3e61cbec8dc1da69c21577d740545fd1

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- Jan. 14, 2021, a pickup traverses the Franklin St. bridge in Michigan City, Ind. The structure was built in the 1930s, & will be closed again for repairs in a few weeks. La Porte County officials have begun discussion of its replacement. America’s infrastructure has scored near-failing grades for its deteriorating roads, public transit & storm water systems due to years of inaction from the federal government.

[FuzzyRabbit]

1. Back in the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s

our federal government built hydroelectric power plants, won WW2, built the interstate highway system, sent men to the moon and much more.

Since 1981 the only significant federal project has been cutting taxes for the wealthiest.

[PSPS]

2. Yes, saint ronnie turned the largest creditor nation into the largest debtor nation

[appalachiablue]

11. +1

[oldsoftie]

3. Every President for the past 40 yrs keep saying "improve our infrastructure'.

You cant get Congress to go along with these major projects that arent "sexy' to voters.
#1 needs to be hardening & upgrading our electrical grid. Because when THAT fails, and it will, there will be hell to pay in the streets.

[Lonestarblue]

4. And make the grid secure from hackers.

There were reports a few years ago that both the Chinese and the Russians had been in some of our big grids. Can you imagine the chaos if one or the other shut down the entire Eastern Grid for hours or days!

[oldsoftie]

5. Exactly. And yes, thats part of it. But too many people dont understand.

even people hereon DU will dispute the need to spend on it. Even though, compared to other projects, it wouldnt break the bank at all

[tanyev]

6. Well the Trump misadministration kept trying and trying to have Infrastructure Week.

Got swept away by their own debacles every single time.

[Calista241]

7. Frankly, that's better than I thought it would be. n/t

[EarthFirst]

8. "C's get degrees..."

Every puke-faced Republican fraternity brother out there.

[Johnny2X2X]

9. It's embarrassing when foreign travelers come here

When you travel to most of Europe, it's evident how much nicer infrastructure is in aa lot of the main countries.

When they come here, it's embarrassing. They can't believe the richest country in the world has crumbling infrastructure and terrible airports. And the airports might be the worst part, it's the first thing travelers see and most US airports are subpar at best.

[appalachiablue]

10. Friends who go to Britain and Norway often

remark on the superior airports, trains and infrastructure there compared to the US. The airport is the first impression, you're right.

The state of this country's transportation systems is an embarrassment and a danger.

[Johnny2X2X]

12. Have several German friends who've visited

And we're frank with each other, pun intended, one of my buddy's name is Frank. And they kind of laugh at it, and driving around Michigan with them, the one thing they cannot believe is all the litter. They just don't let the sides of their highways look like we do, where trash sits for months. They clean theirs up, and they have less of it because they have way more trash receptacles in every town.

Took a trip to FL with one of them one time and we were in the swamp fishing and both of us were just disgusted by the trash floating around the Everglades and caught up in the mangroves and vegetation. We floated by a who refrigerator.

There are parts of the US that just don't care at all about litter. Then there are also parts, like a lot of the Northwest, where litter is almost never seen.

[appalachiablue]

14. That's disturbing to hear, laxity about trash

and litter breeds vermin, disease and more. Throughout the Caribbean I've noticed very clean, well operated islands and a few locales with trash, much of it related to governance.

The French TVG train from Paris to Bordeaux was amazing. Way back in 1972, German friends proudly drove us by the new Olympic Village Stadium in Munich, and we took the newly opened subway system.

How far the US has fallen in many ways in the last few decades and how much we're destroying the environment is tragic.

[modrepub]

13. Tell Them To Watch the Blue Angles

That's where the bulk of our taxes goes, to the military industrial complex. Our weaponry is second to none. What's the point of having something if you're not going to use it? Which leads to foreign entanglements. Those are cumulatively over time even more expensive than the weapon systems themselves.

Most other countries don't spend as much as us on their military so they have more available for infrastructure and healthcare. I doubt we'll change our priorities anytime soon.