The Nation's Crumbling Infrastructure
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-03-22/nations-crumbling-infrastructure
The crisis in Japan is prompting new questions about long simmering issues here at home, and among them, our country’s deteriorating infrastructure. For years our bridges, dams, water treatment systems and other critical infrastructure elements have been in dire need of maintenance and repair, but finding the money to address these needs has become increasingly difficult. Earlier this month a bipartisan group in the Senate offered a plan that, if enacted, would encourage private investors to take the lead on large scale transportation, water and energy projects. Please join us for an update on efforts to rebuild the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
Guests
Stephen Flynn
president, Center for National Policy,
former senior fellow with the National Securities Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of "America the Vulnerable" and "The Edge of Disaster."
Dan Flanagan
chair, The Commission to Promote Investment in America's Infrastructure, 1993
consultant, project finance and infrastructure investment
Jack Basso
director, program finance and management,
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official (AASHTO)
Josh Mitchell
staff writer,Dow Jones Newswires.
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Freight Rail investment gives America ***$25 for $1*** Bang for the Buck in creating American Jobs and Manufacturing. It also removes thousands of 18 wheelers from the highways; creating more room and efficient movement for passenger vehicles.
Article: A rail corridor along I-81 that would get traffic and the economy moving again (every $1 invested generates $25 in long term financial benefits):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/25/AR201003...
Freight Rail investment (such as the I81 corridor) and USA made Efficient Locomotives (GE Evolution series efficient locomotives) use less Oil than freight trucks to the tune of 436 miles per gallon per ton of freight. 70% of America’s Oil use is in Transportation. Expanding Freight Rail along I81 can remove thousands of trucks, save billions of barrels of Oil, and create tens of thousands of Jobs.
It baffles me that a whole group of very intelligent people could discuss infrastructure costs in such depth, and fail to even mention our astronomical population growth. We've added more than 60 million people, just since l990-- and the US Census Bureau is projecting another 130 million more by 2050-- with no end in sight!! America is the fastest growing developed nation. We've averaged a 1% growth rate for two decades-- if we continue to grow at this rate, we will DOUBLE our population in 70 years. Think about it: double the houses, double the cars, double the shopping malls; double the bridges--- double EVERYTHING !!!! This decision to deliberately double our population in one generation --- and not talk about it--- simply defies common sense!!!
It baffles me that a whole group of very intelligent people could discuss infrastructure and future costs in such depth, and fail to even mention our astronomical population growth. We've added more than 60 million people, just since l990-- and the US Census Bureau is projecting another 130 million more by 2050-- with no end in sight. America is the fastest growing developed nation. We've averaged a 1% growth rate for two decades-- if we continue to grow at this rate, we will DOUBLE our population in 70 years. Think about it: double the houses, double the cars, double the shopping malls; double the bridges--- double EVERYTHING !!!! The decision to bring upon ourselves this jaw dropping growth--- and not talk about it---even in the midst of a conversation about infrastructure costs-- simply defies common sense.