Editorial - Every four years Americans raise their expectations that a change in our national leadership will result in change for the better. In 2009, especially since there is a new presidential administration, we civil engineers hope that our national infrastructure takes a priority with both President Obama and Congress. The many challenges our nation faces such as the economic recession, health care, education, the war on terror, and alternative sources of energy will no doubt compete against addressing the declining state of our infrastructure.

On March 25, 2009 the ASCE Report Card on the nation’s infrastructure will be released to the public. While ASCE expects more dismal grades as previously reported, the ASCE Committee on Critical Infrastructure is offering viable solutions. On a statewide and local level, we need to do our part as engineers to promote principles that can be the foundation for revitalizing our infrastructure, as well as preventing disaster.

Be sure to read upcoming news from ASCE regarding this issue. ASCE estimates that $1.6 trillion is needed over a five-year period to bring the nation’s infrastructure rating to a good condition. In the meantime, here are some thoughts about tackling the problem.

Help from the Federal Government – The enormous time, effort, coordination, program management, and funding for re-building America’s infrastructure needs committed leadership on the federal level. National initiatives at the federal level built much of the original infrastructure, and time has shown that state and local governments are not able to maintain and modernize it. After Hurricane Katrina, southeast Louisiana became the poster child for the difference federal assistance can make with regards to flood protection infrastructure. Unfortunately it took a disaster of historic proportions and tremendous effort by the elected officials and citizens to secure that federal assistance. Must there be equally tragic events to highlight the problems with transportation systems, water resources, and other critical infrastructure?

Sustainable Design and Construction – Today’s infrastructure must receive more than piecemeal, band-aid repairs that extend the useful life of functionally obsolete infrastructure. However, the way projects have been funded, prioritized, and built are often short on vision and long on promises that it’s the best government can do. Sustainability is the culture that leads to efficient, technological advanced, and durable design and construction practices.

Unified Approach – Along with a committed national leadership and funding, to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure requires a comprehensive, holistic approach. Rather than compete among ourselves, state-by-state, parish-by-parish, neighborhood-by-neighborhood, we need a unified set of goals and strategic planning. The space program achieved success because the goal was so well defined. President Kennedy said, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. From that mission statement came the entire space program with the same elements (organization, funding, vision, unity) that is required if we are to improve civilization in our corner of planet Earth.

Maintenance – Our culture is a disposable society. Our mentality is that if it’s broken; throw it away because even if it could be repaired, it’s probably already obsolete or cheaper to buy it new. That’s the wrong approach to infrastructure that costs millions and now sometimes billions. The infrastructure America must build also has to consider life-cycle costs so that it is affordable to maintain and easily adaptable in the future. The cheapest capital cost philosophy will not only burden future Americans with the price of paying for this infrastructure, but also make it difficult to afford to operate and maintain it safely and prudently.

Be Heard – You receive this journal because you are a member of the premier organization that speaks for the American civil engineer. Educate yourself and take advantage of this unified voice. Go to:
http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2005/index.cfm

Take the initiative to the local level by educating your family, friends, neighbors, and elected officials about the condition of America’s infrastructure. Participate in ASCE’s call to action. The infrastructure categories are roads, bridges, transit, aviation, schools, drinking water, wastewater, dams, navigable waterways, solid waste, hazardous waste, energy, rail, parks and recreation, and new in 2009 LEVEES!

- Deborah D Keller, P.E.

This editorial was featured in the Novermber 2008 Louisiana Civil Engineer Journal