U.S. Infrastructure Renewal: Who Should Pay the Bill?

[OddTrader]

U.S. Infrastructure Renewal: Who Should Pay the Bill?
Jul 25, 2017

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/u-s-infrastructure-renewal-pay-bill/

In recent years, pessimism about the U.S. infrastructure has been growing, notes Wharton real estate professor Gilles Duranton, a specialist in urban and regional development, transportation and local public finance. “More and more, it is said that the overall infrastructure is old and decaying, that bridges collapse and roads are full of potholes. Water poisons residents in some places like Flint, Michigan; electricity is not always reliable; airports and seaports are under strain; cellphone coverage is piecemeal.”

How accurate is that picture? Although that image is sometimes exaggerated, “there is some truth to this,” Duranton asserts.

ASCE gives US infrastructure a D+ - Business Insider
www.businessinsider.com/asce-gives-us-infrastructure-a-d-2017-6 - Cached
16 Jun 2017 ... US infrastructure is falling apart — here's a look at how terrible things have become. ... According to the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, which is published every four years, US infrastructure gets a D+ grade. ... Here's a look at each category's ...


ASCE's 2017 Infrastructure Report Card | GPA: D+
https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/ - Cached
The American Infrastructure Report Card from ASCE provides a look at the bridge , water, transportation and more infrastructure problems of the US.

 

[vanzandt]

Invade Iraq and take the oil.

 

[OddTrader]

Invade Iraq and take the oil.

Better try something new!

2 Wars!

Image compares the CBO January 2001 surplus baseline forecast for the 2002-2011 period versus the actual deficit amounts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_policy_of_the_George_W._Bush_administration

Budget deficit and national debt


The U.S. fiscal position changed dramatically for the worse during the Bush years. CBO projected in its January 2001 baseline that the U.S. would have a total of $5.6 trillion in annual surpluses over the 2002-2011 decade, assuming the laws in place during the Clinton era continued and the economy performed as expected. However, the actual deficits during those years ended up being $6.1 trillion, a negative swing of $11.7 trillion. Two recessions, two wars, and tax cuts were the primary drivers of the differences

 

[beerntrading]

Gas tax. Between inflation, rising gas prices, increased MPG, and minimal increases to it, it's effectively about 10% of what it was in the '70s. No wonder we can't afford roads.

The average American pays about 32 cents per gallon, vs. about $3.20 in the UK...and that's in post-Brexit exchange rates.

 

[OddTrader]

April 30, 2013 / 5:16 PM / 4 years ago
U.S. gasoline could drop to $3.20-$3.40/gal this summer -AAA

http://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-gasoline-aaa-idUKL2N0DH26M20130430

 

[Overnight]

Should have made everything out of steel-reinforced concrete. That stuff lasts a long time. Posting a picture of a pothole in asphalt is not going to "waken the kraken."

 

[beerntrading]

Should have made everything out of steel-reinforced concrete. That stuff lasts a long time. Posting a picture of a pothole in asphalt is not going to "waken the kraken."

That's what brought down I-35 in Minneapolis St. Paul. Rebar degrades and causes concrete to crumble.

And speaking of things that should "waken the kraken"...

 

[Overnight]

That's what brought down I-35 in Minneapolis St. Paul. Rebar degrades and causes concrete to crumble.

And speaking of things that should "waken the kraken"...

So what is a better solution? Paste asphalt over crumbling concrete, or replace the 90-YO concrete? Drive the Belt parkway on a warm day in February in Brooklyn and get back to us.

 

[beerntrading]

So what is a better solution? Paste asphalt over crumbling concrete, or replace the 90-YO concrete? Drive the Belt parkway on a warm day in February in Brooklyn and get back to us.

Sufficient revenue for maintenance.

I'm honestly ambivalent. I ride a bike, not drive. Crumbling interstates mean that many fewer suburban drivers in the city. Or tax the drivers in line with the cost of the maintenance for the damage a car causes to roadways. Same net effect for me either way.

 

[Overnight]

Sufficient revenue for maintenance.

I'm honestly ambivalent. I ride a bike, not drive. Crumbling interstates mean that many fewer suburban drivers in the city...

You seem a spritely fellow then. So you will be riding your "bike" in ten years? Twenty? Fifty? You will never need other means of transport?

Well, stout pixie, I pray that in your lifetime they will come out with flying cars. We need the flying cars. Where the hell are the flying cars.

We need our flying cars!!!!!!!!!!!!