Infrastructure emergency

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the accounting firm of Ernst & Young have just published "Infrastructure 2007: A Global Perspective." The study finds that the U.S. faces a $1.6 trillion deficit in needed infrastructure spending for transportation, energy, water and wastewater through 2010 just for repair and maintenance. In addition, poor road conditions led directly to $54 billion in needed car repairs annually. Included in the study is a survey of state departments of transportation planning directors that finds only 44 percent responding that their transportation infrastructure "meets most" of current needs while 50 percent say that it "meets some" and another 6 percent says it "does not meet most." Things worsen when it comes to the states’ 10-year plans, where 80 percent of respondents indicate those plans will "not meet needs" for future transport networks. The report concludes according to the data, "At some point, the system is going to grind to a halt." The study examines trends in infrastructure and financing, ranging from the initiation of the interstate highway system through today, and looks ahead toward finding new models for both in order to avert an infrastructure crisis. Your comment?