May 2008

Renew and Rebuild

To make up for years of underinvestment in transportation infrastructure, the U.S. needs a sensible plan for addressing this unprecedented challenge. 

By Dan Hanlon, P.E.

When we consider the importance that our transportation infrastructure has played in the development and success of the U.S., we begin to understand how important it is to maintain and enhance the critical elements of that infrastructure for which engineers have been chiefly responsible. From the earliest roads to the canals, railroads, the development the national highway system, sea ports, airports, and now the Internet, it is easy to see why this country has managed to stay ahead of other developed countries in terms of economic growth, security, and overall prosperity. It is because we have had the world's best transportation infrastructure. But lack of renewal investment in our critical infrastructure over the past two decades is now catching up with us. We are in a crisis situation as demonstrated by the I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota last year.

With the importance of infrastructure improvements and modernization as the key theme, the Inaugural Transportation Convention was held in Washington, D.C., March 5–7. NSPE and many other public and private organizations took part in the event, which covered legislation and industry initiatives to promote the expanded renewal of critical transportation infrastructure.

NSPE representatives provided an overview of the Society's positions on key issues such as improving science, engineering, and technical education; supporting student loan forgiveness for those who enter engineering; and supporting legislation that would provide liability coverage to engineers who volunteer their services after a natural or man-made disaster. NSPE also emphasized its support for the pending Infrastructure Improvement Act.

The nation's infrastructure troubles are not a looming crisis—the crisis is here. The Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill is delayed, and Congress is debating far-reaching legislation to deal with climate change that could fundamentally alter the U.S. transportation systems. The Highway Trust Fund teeters on the edge of bankruptcy as SAFETEA-LU authorizations for surface transportation programs are set to expire. All of this is happening while we are in the midst of one of the most historic and important elections in U.S. history. Not only does no one know how it will turn out, but we also don't know what changes might be in store for transportation.

The stakes for transportation couldn't be higher, which is why the majority of the convention attendees believe that now is the time to move on a robust, thoughtful, and comprehensive plan to build, maintain, and fund a world-class 21st century infrastructure.

It was a consensus opinion that the next era in surface transportation requires a multi-modal and intermodal vision that supports competition in the global economy. As the recent National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission said, "facilities must be maintained, travel options plentiful and reliable, freight movement valued, safety assured, transportation decisions made based on need and return on investment, and rational regulatory policies."

The commission estimated that $225 billion is needed each year at all levels of investment in order to maintain and adequately enhance our surface transportation systems for the 15-year period of 2005–2020. Yet in 2005, government taxation and spending for transportation was around $155 billion, and the collected federal fuel tax amounted to about $33 billion. That leaves an approximately $60 billion investment gap per year.

How do we close the investment gap? Many believe that when it comes to federal funding, every option must be considered to address the enormous challenge of an aging transportation infrastructure. That means all of the revenue sources and financing options that maintain and expand our existing networks must be on the table, including user fees on fuels and public-private partnerships.

There's no free lunch here. There is a clear difference between what the U.S. is investing and what is needed to modernize and expand the transportation system. So, we must first fix what we have. Then, if we want a new road, a new runway, or a new transit system, we have to buy it. But to be successful, we also have to fundamentally change policies and programs.

It is clear that chronic underinvestment is a major contributing factor to the problems across all modes of transportation. However, the public must trust and have confidence that transportation programs will deliver real solutions to real problems, otherwise we will not gain their support for increased investment.

As a nation, we've allowed governments to pile on complex and overlapping regulations that stretch project-delivery times to 13 years on average. Earmarks have become rampant for projects of dubious transportation benefits, and we've created a federal surface transportation program that spreads money around to anything and everything rather than asked decision makers to make tough choices or set common-sense priorities.

Everyone agrees that we must do more to ensure that public dollars are spent wisely. That means ending waste and targeting the highest-priority projects. It means a sensible mix of projects based on actual needs, not politics or ideologies. It also means ending the practice of diverting money intended for infrastructure to other programs, which breaks trust with the taxpayers who expect their user fees to go toward their intended purposes. But roads and public transportation aren't the only infrastructure components that need attention. Aviation, ports and inland waterways, and freight and passenger rail all need serious attention. And so does infrastructure beyond transportation—in energy, water, and communications.

How many of our fellow citizens simply take this infrastructure for granted? From the interstate highways to the Information Superhighway…from airports to water ports to wastewater systems…from rail lines to transmission lines to power plants…our infrastructure is in crisis.

That's why many believe we need an Apollo-type initiative that focuses the best of America's engineering and construction talent on this unprecedented challenge. Along with architecture, engineering, and construction-related associations and societies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is focused on promoting the need for infrastructure improvements with a multimillion-dollar initiative called "Let's Rebuild America." These like-minded groups are putting money, people, research, programs, and strong political action around a sustained, long-term campaign to rebuild the economic platform of our nation. This initiative must incorporate every resource at our disposal for a combined effort using all available policy expertise, lobbying clout, grassroots capabilities, and communications channels.

There are four key goals included in the Let's Rebuild America initiative:

• Establish infrastructure as a core economic issue and a high priority for all levels of government;
• Create public awareness and local interest groups' involvement;
• Encourage private-sector investment by getting the government out of the way; and
• Promote an honest dialogue on public funding, with the goal of making sure that there's adequate public investment and that our leaders know that it's not about "tax and spend" but rather "invest and grow."

To succeed, all transportation and infrastructure stakeholders will need to be at the table—all modes, industries, builders, carriers, users, and shippers alike. Every organization has a responsibility to advocate for its particular interest. But all of us have a shared responsibility to advance the national interest.

All engineers involved directly or indirectly with the renewal of our critical infrastructure need to support this group effort. Here are three things that you can do:

First, when you're on Capitol Hill or back in your local district, impress upon your representative or senator how essential it is to fix the Highway Trust Fund deficit. Second, join the Americans for Transportation Mobility Coalition and advocate for a well-funded highway and transit authorization bill in 2009. And, finally, add your voices to the Chamber's Let's Rebuild America campaign (www.letsrebuildamerica.com) and other state and local initiatives that emphasize the importance of investment in the physical platform of our economy: transportation, energy, and communications infrastructure.

If the U.S. is going to maintain its leadership in the world economy, it's time to get serious about investing in the modernization and expansion of nation's infrastructure. Get involved and help educate America. It won't happen without you.

NSPE member Dan Hanlon, P.E., serves on the Legislative & Government Affairs Committee.