Written by Devin Morrissey
Infrastructure is one of the most important features of advanced societies, and it plays a key role in differentiating the U.S. and many European countries from Majority World countries. As one of the crucial organizational structures of a society created by the people and for the people, infrastructure in the U.S. is not sufficiently renewed or funded to continue functioning as it should. Around the country, bridges are falling apart, water pipes are blowing and aviation transportation infrastructure is not keeping up with demand. Even after Trump presented a U.S. infrastructure plan and budget this year, city planners and citizens alike are left wondering what will become of the aging U.S. infrastructure.
Infrastructure Renewal
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Infrastructure was rated a D+ in 2017. Since the last report card published in 2013, some aspects of infrastructure have received attention while others continue to fall behind. In the transportation sector, more people than ever are using public transit as their sole method of transportation. With the increased use of this service comes greater wear and a greater need for renewal. Accessible and dependable public transit is a need that will only continue to grow, which means other infrastructure like roads should also be improved in order to keep our transportation infrastructure functioning.
The ASCE Report Card generally suggests that all infrastructure systems require improvement due to a lack of maintenance throughout their lifecycles. As important as all areas of infrastructure are, certain areas demand priority for the sake of education and health, namely schools and clean water. Without investing in public schools, today’s youth cannot receive the full potential of their education; and by not investing in water infrastructure, we are compromising the health of ourselves and our fellow citizens.
Investing in Infrastructure
“Infrastructure is the backbone of our world class economy,” according United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. “With respect to service transportation, traffic congestion and delays cost drivers nearly $160 billion annually.” As a public administrator, Chao is responsible for using research and data to inform the public on the necessity of implementing government policy that will address infrastructure needs. “The transportation needs of rural america, which account for the disproportionately high number of our nation’s highway fatalities, have been ignored for too long,” Chao said in a statement supporting Trump’s infrastructure plan in March of 2018.
Infrastructure has long been an investment that provides thousands of jobs and helps local and nationwide economies thrive. Job growth is already expected in every trade-related job that is necessary for infrastructure renewal, including 13 percent job growth for ironworkers, who, among other things, assemble the structural and reinforcing iron and steel that support buildings, bridges, and roads. Plumbers, pipelayers, construction laborers, paving, surfacing and various other equipment operators create the skeleton of our nation, which is why investing in necessary infrastructure is also an investment in jobs and the U.S. economy.
Between transportation, water resources, construction, and urban planning, trade jobs and engineers are needed to execute an investment in our cities and roads. Civil engineering is the most popular engineering field and it’s expected to grow eight percent by 2024. In order to successfully invest in infrastructure, we must plan out where and when restructuring will happen to calculate the logistics of renovation in those areas and employ the necessary people. Engineering students, especially those specializing in sustainability will have a large role to play in the renewal of U.S. infrastructure, as there is a push for more sustainable practices in the construction and infrastructure industries, as well as globally.
Our infrastructure is subject to criticism not only from interest groups and politicians, but from many citizens who witness first-hand the consequences of inaction. The impact of natural disasters and the expected wear and tear of the nation’s framework is a subject that can no longer be neglected. The U.S. workforce is ready to embrace infrastructure as an investment that will result in safer roads and a thriving economy.
Aging U.S. infrastructure has needed new blood for a long time, and we must lead the next generation of engineers, iron workers, constructions workers and manufacturers to jobs that will renew our infrastructure and strengthen our economy.
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Devin Morrissey is a freelance content creator, and he prides himself on being a jack of all trades. His career trajectory is more a zigzag than an obvious trend, just the way he likes it. He pops up across the Pacific Northwest, though never in one place for long. You can follow him more reliably on Twitter.
Tags: Aging U.S. Infrastructure, ASCE, Devin Morrissey, Infrastructure Report Card
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