Local problems reflect infrastructure problems nationwide
Its a sad day for Americas roads and bridges when a D+ rating on the nations infrastructure by the American Society of Civil Engineers is an improvement from the 2009 rating of D.
Roads still get a D. Forty-two percent of Americas major urban highways remain congested, costing the economy an estimated $101 billion in wasted time and fuel annually, the report says thats a big chunk of the $170 billion in capital investment that the Federal Highway Administration estimates would be needed annually to significantly improve conditions and performance.
Some types of infrastructure have shown a little improvement, especially rail (in large part because of investment by private freight rail companies) and bridges. Both are now rated C+. But one in nine bridges is still considered structurally deficient.
To address pressing transportation needs, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Penn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Congress, has said he is willing to consider an increase in the gas tax as part of an overall tax reform package. The federal gas tax has not been raised since 1993. A just-announced plan by the EPA to reduce sulfur in gas would raise the price at the pump from 1 to 9 cents a gallon, depending on whose figures you use. (See the first article of the Bulletin.)
Download Bulletin PDF