Let's
Rebuild America Together
By HAROLD
FORD, JR. and JIM HALL
August 17, 2007; Page A13
The collapse of the I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis is the most
recent tragic development in a series of events highlighting the decrepit
status of our nation's vital infrastructure. This is a problem that concerns
every single American and is one that not only affects safety but also our
national security and economic prosperity. This is also an opportunity for
Republicans and Democrats to come together in a time of need to address an
issue of national importance
Our road and highway network becomes increasingly congested
with each passing year. Congestion costs Americans more than $1 billion
annually in lost wages and added gasoline costs. This rapid growth further
encumbers our already overburdened road, highway and bridge capacity, thereby
jeopardizing public safety as these structures are not properly maintained.
But the problems are not unique to ground transportation.
Airline delays this summer have reached a record high in the 13 years since
the FAA first began collecting these statistics. Many of the country's
largest airports including, but not limited to, Los Angeles, New York Kennedy and Washington Dulles are projected to see increases in passengers upwards
of 50% by 2020. Runway, terminal, air traffic control and navigation systems
are already operating at capacity.
A 2005 report card on America's infrastructure conducted by
the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the nation an overall
mark of a D. ASCE forecasts that $1.6 trillion over a five-year period is
necessary to bring our crumbling infrastructure up to standard and to enable
our system to function with the forecast expansion in the following decade.
Most of America's essential highway network dates back to the
Eisenhower administration's interstate project, which required a tremendous
capital investment by the federal government. This prudent expenditure
contributed to the post-War economic boom. Looking abroad, other countries
have surpassed the U.S. in their investments in preserving and improving
their transportation systems.
Although total spending on transportation by the federal
government has steadily increased over the past four decades, such
expenditure as a total percentage of outlays has declined from nearly 4% in
the 1960s to slightly above 2% in recent years. Federal funds have been
inappropriately used, widely earmarked into flashy headline-grabbing projects
while disregarding imperative but unglamorous maintenance and upkeep work.
Many of these earmarks are for new projects in specific constituencies; a
general overhaul of our road and rail network has long been neglected.
In today's environment of highly polarized partisan politics,
Democrats and Republicans need common ground on which to agree, and the
status of our nation's infrastructure provides a perfect opportunity.
Creating a bipartisan America's Build Initiative similar to Gov. Ed Rendell's
plan for Pennsylvania will create job opportunities for Americans, strengthen
our infrastructure for the 21st century, and make this country greener and
more efficient using cutting-edge, environmentally friendly technologies.
All options should be on the table and explored, including
private as well as public financing. We need to put aside partisan politics
and pork-barrel spending, and allocate our limited resources on need rather
than congressional seniority. Lavish spending by the current administration
on other priorities, and inefficient use of appropriated transportation
funds, have resulted in dilapidating roads, dams, bridges, highways,
pipelines and airports. Hurricane Katrina was the first warning sign of America's decaying infrastructure, and this recent tragedy only further accentuates the
current crisis. How many more bridges and levees will collapse, and how many
more lives will be needlessly lost, before the president and Congress realize
the strategic importance of investing in sound infrastructure for America's future?
Mr. Ford is the chairman of the Democratic Leadership
Council, as well as vice chairman of Merrill Lynch. Mr. Hall served as
chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board from 1994-2001 and
currently heads a government affairs firm in Washington, D.C.
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