American Society of Civil Engineers Structural Report Card for America..

[Fumesucker]

http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/

2009 Grades

Aviation D
Bridges C
Dams D
Drinking Water D-
Energy D+
Hazardous Waste D
Inland Waterways D-
Levees D-
Public Parks and Recreation C-
Rail C-
Roads D-
Schools D
Solid Waste C+
Transit D
Wastewater D-

America's Infrastructure GPA: D
Estimated 5 Year Investment Need: $2.2 Trillion

[DJ13]

1. Estimated 5 Year Investment Need: $2.2 Trillion

Im sorry, that money is already earmarked for Goldman Sach's bonus fund.

But we do have a nice toaster (made in China) as a consolation prize.

[LARED]

2. I used to drive through Virgina on a regular basis

and was always amazed at the number of 4 or 6 lane highways with 1 or 2 cars per mile. While the main commuter byways are jammed packed at 2:00 AM on a regular basis. Same in Jersey.

I am willing to wager that at least 25% of infrastructure dollars over the last 40 years have gone to pet projects of dubious value.

So I say blame congress.

[FarCenter]

21. Highways go where the politcally connected developers have options on the land

At least in New Jersey, but it's probably that way in Virginia and elsewhere.

[izquierdista]

3. Solid waste gets a C+

And that's the best grade out there? The idea that solid waste should be buried in landfills should get an F- just for the sustainability of it; I suppose the C+ is for the implementation of an insanely shitty idea.

[Fumesucker]

4. I guess they were grading "on the curve", eh? n/t

[izquierdista]

13. On second thought

I would have to give the interstate highway system a B+ -- room for improvement, but overall very good. It has to get the highest grade of the American infrastructure; it's the only system of public transit, the raison d'etre of the GDP, and the reason for war to keep the oil flowing.

[Fumesucker]

15. Interstates are quite good but secondary roads in many places are pitiful..

Interestingly enough, the original rationale for the Interstate system was to move war materiel quickly around the country, that's why it is named the Eisenhower Interstate System. Eisenhower led a convoy from the East coast to the West coast fairly early in the century that took quite a long time and was very difficult due to the poor roads at the time. Later Eisenhower saw the German Autobahns after the end of WWII and pushed for a similar system when he became POTUS.

[izquierdista]

17. Pitiful compared to......?

Not Mexico, not Ukraine. American secondary roads, even the ones with a few potholes, are much, much better than roads in the third world. For one thing they are paved with occasional flaws in the pavement instead of unpaved with occasional smooth spots when the weather is dry. Secondary roads are really a reflection of the local (county) economy. If a county is prosperous, they can get out and do the required maintenance and the roads are in good shape. If the county is impoverished, the roads are the first to show it.

[Fumesucker]

19. Last time I checked the USA was the wealthiest economy in the world..

Comparing it with the third world is hardly warranted.

Go drive the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in NYC, it's like an offroad event but on pavement.. Or it was the last time I was there anyway.

And since I'm a phonetic reader I'll never forget the official NY state DOT sign that said verbatim "Throg's Neck Thurway".. :)

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. What a sad %&*$ state of affairs.

How much is that damn highway we're building in Afghanistan?

[Fumesucker]

6. I dunno, but the fuel for the machines is $400/gal.. n/t

[City Lights]

7. What an outrageous disgrace.

:-(

[Gregorian]

8. Oh those civil engineers!

I mean, what's with that Mohr's circle anyways?

:)






By the way, I'm not going to stop about military spending taking up our tax dollars.

[Fumesucker]

9. I dunno, but this situation is plane stressful.. n/t

[Gregorian]

14. What a shear delight to get that reply.

:)

[billyclem]

16. Double Groan or Double Grin, how much tensor can I take the stress? n/t

[billyclem]

10. Degradation at the local level.

We have all witnessed this. Local politicians of both parties have put off maintenence and upgrade of underground utilities for years or decades, I think since nothing visual is acheived for the expense. We are left with leaky and failing water and sewer systems.

The above could be used as a model for infrastructure as a whole, unless there is wow-wee factor and BigPork not much will be done. Unfortunately many of the BigPork projects are useless, just named tributes to the congressctitter who brought it home.

[Golden Raisin]

11. And seemingly endless billions

(trillions?) keep going down the blackhole of our permanent foreign wars. The corporate, mega-defense contractors and the Defense Department are always taken care of. Infrastructure and Education (among many other topics) not so much.

[amborin]

12. $57,000 per minute in Afghanistan mother jones.org KNR

[unhappycamper]

24. That's $57,000 per minute for the 30,000 new boots on the ground in Afghanistan.

It's not even close to the total cost of this occupation.

[kirby]

18. USA #1, USA #1, USA #1 - Repeat after me! n/t

[xchrom]

20. Recommend

[FarCenter]

22. Large houses on large lots makes for unmaintainably high infrastructure costs

Roads, water pipes, sewer pipes, gas service, electrical service, fiber optics are all more expensive as the density of dwelling units decreases.

A lot of infrastructure expenditures have been made in far suburban developments that will turn into ghost towns in the next decade.

[Fumesucker]

23. If we are going to house all the people living in those places now ..

We are going to have to build a lot more high density housing, complete with infrastructure..

I'm not sure that's going to be economically feasible either. In either case there needs to be a vast expenditure of money that we simply do not have..