The Threat of Aging Infrastructure in America

By Michael Yatskievych and Alyssa Cervantes

PAD 5347-Thursday 6 May 2010

Problem

atic Them

es:

- Updating and building new infrastructure components is very expensive.- Where do we get the money?- How do we allocate funds?

- How do we prioritize infrastructure attention? - Which infrastructures are in greatest

demand for commerce and security?

- How to re-educate public to be more aware of critical infrastructures?

Consequences

Overview of aging critical infrastructure consequences:

- Deteriorated infrastructure is an immediate threat to the safety and well-being to citizens- Delays in repair and maintenance costs more money than immediate attention-Potential increases in taxes-Greater infrastructure neglect increases odds of terrorism-Wasting time and resources-Increased infrastructure operational costs-Diminished economic competitiveness

Infrastructure

Most of America’s infrastructure is over 50 years old: Locks, Levees, and Dams Bridges Highways Water Systems

Breached Levees

Hurricane KatrinaAugust 2005

I-35 Bridge Collapse

Minneapolis, Minnesota

August 2007

Cuyahoga R

iver Fires

Cleveland’s claim to shame-“The river that oozes rather than flows.”

-Time Magazine, June 22, 1969.

A.S.C

.E.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.

DO

verall infrastructure rating:

Additional C

IP ratings:

Highest Rating:Solid Waste Management: C+

Lowest Rating:Waterway Transportation: D-

Solutions

1. Increase federal leadership in infrastructure.

2. Promote sustainability and resilience.

3. Develop federal, regional, and state infrastructure plans.

4. Address life-cycle costs and aging maintenance.

A.A

.S.H.T.O

.

Goals

1. Provide a clearinghouse for up-to-date info on preservation technologies for pavements and bridges.

2. Develop and administer a Help Desk for the technical and training needs for State highway agencies.

3. Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, information and best practices for those agencies.

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

The D

igital Age

The most important facet of infrastructure:

Digital Network Construction

Traditional defined layers of critical infrastructure currently rely on advanced broad-band technology to communicate with affiliated offices and facilities to operate safely and smoothly .

Structure Inspections

To build or to destroy?-When is it best to repair?

-When is it best to build new?

-Does old equate to bad?

-Who is responsible for deciding the fate of a structure?

Monetary A

cquisition

The great generalization:

How do we get the money to protect and update critical infrastructures?

-increase taxes

-increase utility/usage rate

-create finance mgmt. offices

-re-education initiatives

Monetary A

cquisition

An additional method to acquire more infrastructure funds.

Follow the city of Houston permit consolidation model:

Tax everything for every

occasion (i.e. garage sales, noise

permits, ballroom rental, etc.)

Conclusion

The final word…

List of A

rticles Review

ed

The CIP Report- Vol. 8 No. 4 Oct. 2009:

Aging Infrastructure-“America’s Infrastructure”. Herrmann, Andrew W.

-“AASHTO: ~Aging Bridges and Structures”. Rehm, Kelley.

- “Intelligent Infrastructure”. Carlini, James.

- “Optimizing Infrastructure Investments”. Creel, James.

- “Physical Exam of Aging Buildings”. Schkeeper, Peter A.

- “The Future for ~Water”. Loken, Lorraine.

- “Washington’s Transportation ~”. Swanson, John.

- “Infrastructure Age, Security, and Hazards”. Zimmerman, Rae and et al.

- “Bridge Diagnostics”. Schultz, Jeffery.

- “Transportation Appropriations Act”. Maltby, Joseph.

Additional R

eferences

-Adler, Jonathan H. (2003). "Fables of the Cuyahoga: Reconstructing a History of Environmental Protection." Fordham Environmental Law Journal, Vol. XIV, p. 89.

-CIA Worldfactbook: United States (Available online: 1 May 2010): https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

-"The Cities: The Price of Optimism, 1969-08-01.". Time (magazine). 1969-08-01. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/

0,9171,901182,00.html. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 

-City of Houston, Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department. “Step Seven in the One Stop Permitting Initiative”. May 5, 2009.

-Cross, Paul. PAD 5347 Lecture: February 11, 2010.

-Cross, Paul. PAD 5347 Lecture: March 25, 2010.

-"Cuyahoga River Area of Concern". Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/cuyahoga.html. 

-"The Cuyahoga River Watershed: Proceedings of a symposium commemorating the dedication of Cunningham Hall." Kent State University, 1 November 1968.

-I-35 Bridge Tragedy (Available online: 1 May 2010): https//:www.uaprogressiveaction.com/taxonomy/term/26