Crumbling Infrastructure in USA

1. Infrastructure Deficit and
Remedies
Arthur L. Finkle
Engineering Studies in the Twentieth Century
Road construction created an economic stimulus of jobs, materials, easy transportation.
However, Choate and Walter discovered that the cost-cutting 1790s undermined efforts
to revitalize the economy and threatened hundreds of communities with inadequate fire
protection, roads bridges, public transportation and water supplies. Two years later, the
Report renamed itself, The Decaying Infrastructure indicting government neglect with
its declining investment.

2. REPORT CARDS FOR AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
NCPWI ASCE ASCE. ASCE ASCE ASCE ASCE
1988 1998 2001 2003 2005 2009 2013
Highways C+
Roads D— D+ l D — D
Bridges C— C H C C C+
(Mass) Transit C— C C— J D+ D D
Aviation B— C— D H D+ D D
Water resources B
Dams D. D D D D
Water supply B—
Drinking water D D D— D— D
Wastewater C D+ D L D— D— D
Solid waste C— C— C+ C+ C+ —

3. ASCE 2016 Economic
Study
The American Society of Civil Engineers 2016 economic study (Failure to
Act: Closing the Infrastructure Investment Gap for America’s Economic
Future) predicted that America’s infrastructure investment gap was $3.9
trillion in losses to the U.S. GDP by 2025. Further, it found a gap of $7
trillion in lost business sales by 2025. Moreover, it predicted that, due to this
infrastructure gap, lost American jobs in 2025 would total 2.5 million.
On top of those costs, hardworking American families will lose upwards
of $3,400 in disposable income each year – about $9 each day.

4. A middle ground between
government or private
infrastructure Costs
A middle ground between sole government or solely private infrastructure undertakings would utilize the
government's regulatory power to incentivized both public and private sectors. For example:
• Industrial development bond financing, exempting interest from federal or state income taxes, for
especially mentioned capital expenditures.
• Federal/state new markets income tax credits for capital investment to bolster low-income communities
or for low-income persons.

5. (Navigable) Inland waterways D+ 1 D— D— D
Energy (national power grid) D+ , l, D D+ D+
Public parks & recreation — C— C—
Rail C— C— C+
Security I
Levees D— D—
Ports C
Average grade C D D+ D D D+
Investment (in trillions of $/5 years) o.z 1.3 1.6 1.6 2.2 3.6 by
2020
ASCE = American Society of Civil Engineers
NCPWI = National Council on Public Works Improvement
Grade definitions: A = Exceptional, B = Good, C = Mediocre, D = Poor, F = Failing,
I -= Incomplete
Progress report trend definitions: <---> = No change, L.= Worsened condition

6. • State/local taxable bond financing (lower interest rates) used to lower local property
tax exemptions.
• Tax increment financing, (sales, income use, etc.) for capital investing to
compensate for the risk in private enterprise.
• Federal/state job training grants to government or the private sector to the training
of new employees or the re-training of existing employees.
• State income tax credits to incentivize job creation or retention.
• Enterprise or development zones, exempting or reducing local taxes on generating
business activity within a special needs state zone.
• Local property tax exemptions for construction or retrofitting of buildings to qualify
for LEED certifications (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

7. • State/local low interest or forgivable loans to private enterprise
financing capital investment.
• State grants/subsidies to private enterprises for new project
development.
• Local property transfers by condemnation, to private enterprises at
below-market consideration to stimulate its economy.
• State/local grants for the rehabilitation of environmentally impacted
sites (brownfields sites) funded to local governments or private
enterprises.

8. USDOT had granted Minnesota $5 million the day following
the collapse.[105] On August 10, Peters announced an
additional $5 million "for Minneapolis", or "the state", "to
reimburse Minneapolis for increased transit operations to
serve commuters in the wake of last week's bridge collapse".

9. Construction
Kemper Arena was built in 18 months in 1973–74 on the site of the former Kansas City Stockyards just west of downtown
in the West Bottoms to replace the 8,000-seat Municipal Auditorium to play host to the city's professional basketball and
hockey teams.
The arena was the first major project of German architect Helmut Jahn who was to go on to become an important architect
of his era.
The building was revolutionary in its simplicity and the fact it did not have interior columns obstructing views. Its roof is
suspended by exterior steel trusses. The nearly windowless structure contrasts to Jahn's later signature style of providing
wide-open, glass-enclosed spaces. Kemper's exterior skeleton style was to be used extensively throughout Jahn's other
projects.
The building cost $22 million and was previously owned by the city of Kansas City, Missouri. Financing came from seven
sources:
•$5.6 million from general obligation bonds
•$3.2 million donated by R. Crosby Kemper Sr.
•$575,000 from bond interest
•$1.5 million donated by the American Royal Association
•Land provided by the Kansas City Stockyards Company
•$10 million from revenue bonds in conjunction with the Jackson County Sports Authority
•$2 million in federal grants for street work

10. x
ST. FRANCIS DAM DISASTER SITE
Historical Landmark
Description:
The 185-foot concrete St. Francis Dam, part of the Los Angeles aqueduct system, stood a mile and a
half north of this spot. On March 12, 1928, just before midnight, it collapsed and sent over twelve
billion gallons of water roaring down the valley of the Santa Clara River. Over 450 lives were lost in this,
one of California's greatest disasters.
Registration Date: 4/26/1978
Location:
City: Saugus
County: Los Angeles
Swing–Johnson Bill in Congress. This bill, which had first been filed in 1922, and failed to be voted on in
three successive Congresses, was again before Congress at the time. This bill ultimately provided the
funding for constructing the Hoover Dam. Supporters and responsible leaders alike realized the jeopardy
in which the bill then stood. Although the water and electricity from the project were needed, the idea of
the construction of such a massive dam of similar design, which would create a reservoir seven hundred
times larger than the St. Francis, did not sit well with many in light of the recent disaster and the
devastation.[56] The bill was passed by Congress, and signed into law by President Coolidge on December
21, 1928
“200 Dead, 300 Missing, $7,000,000 Loss in St. Francis Dam Disaster,” read the Los Angeles
Times front page

11. Growing wear and tear on our nation's
roads
have left 43% of our public roadways in
poor or mediocre condition, a number
that has remained stagnant over the
past several years.
There are 30,000 miles of inventoried
levees across the U.S.

12. Growing wear and tear on our
nation's roads
have left 43% of our public
roadways in poor or mediocre
condition, a number that has
remained stagnant over the
past several years.

13. There is a water main break every
two minutes
and an estimated 6 billion gallons
of treated water lost each day in
the U.S., enough to fill over 9,000
swimming pools.

14. Silver Bridge, Ohio 1967

15. The collapse focused much-needed
attention on the condition of older
bridges, leading to intensified
inspection protocols and numerous
eventual replacements. There were
only two bridges built to a similar
design, one upstream at St. Marys,
West Virginia, and the notably
longer Hercilio Luz

16. The St. Marys bridge was
immediately closed to traffic and
the bridge was demolished by
the state in 1971. The collapse
inspired legislation to ensure
that older bridges were regularly
inspected and maintained;
however, aging infrastructure is
still a problem in the United
States.