America's Astonishingly Bad Infrastructure Report Card

[G_j]

America's Astonishingly Bad Infrastructure Report Card

While we wait for the 2010 updates and investigative conclusions into the current San Bruno gas pipeline explosion (a reminder that America is in decay), then let us reflect in our hearts and minds as to why the U.S. is allowing this to continue unabated.

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

[endless october]

1. should be a top priority.

and should have been a top priority for the past several decades, as well.

[PDJane]

2. should have been, ought to be now.......

Hasn't bee since Ronald Reagan. It's partly the republican ideology, and partly the American aversion to taxation.

[marmar]

3. They should divide rail into freight and passenger......

......on the passenger front, it would be a big fat F.

[old mark]

4. Politicians have been talking about this shit since forever - Clinton was going to

start to fix this in his first term. Somehow, it never gets dons and other nations far surpass us in transportation speed, safety and convenience.

Millions need work, and here is much work to be done...can anyone in Washington connect the dots?

mark

[FiveGoodMen]

5. This is what the republican agenda has brought us.

And all too often this republican agenda was brought to us by Democrats.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

6. K & R

Thanks for this.

[xchrom]

7. Recommend

[Panaconda]

8. K&R n/t

[csziggy]

9. I'm surprised bridges got as high as a "C" - must be grading on the curve!

Nearly forty years ago, hubby's first father-in-law was a federal bridge inspector. He was upset then about the state of the bridges he was inspecting and that so little was being done to repair them. He was so concerned about some of them, he made lists for specific areas and gave them to family members with the advice to never drive over those bridges.

That was in 1972-73. Since then, hubby and I have not been a bit surprised when we hear about a bridge collapse.

[G_j]

10. things, I'd rather not think about

while driving over a bridge...
:-)

[csziggy]

12. I'm really, really glad I do not have to drive over any bridges daily

Oh - but I do! The bridge over I-10 on the road into town. If I go the other way, there is a bridge over Black Creek. A different way, no bridges I have to drive over, but a flyover I have to drive under.

And I worry about when we go downstate. I'm not that sure about the bridges over the Suwanee River or any of the numerous ones on I-10, I-75, US 27, 19, 98, etc.

Hmmmm, now I AM worried!

[Brickbat]

11. Embarrassing and shameful. This used to be a can-do nation. Where is our pride?

Oh, that's right -- we wear it by putting made-in-China magnets on the back of our scabby cars.

[G_j]

13. btw, you can check out your state's report card also

at the link

[TexasObserver]

14. Rebuilding infrastructure should have been Recovery focus.

We should have pumped money into the rebuilding of infra structure - all the things mentioned - to renew the economy. Instead, we gave money to banks, insurance companies, and others - to cover their losses, not to truly help rebuild.

FDR had it right. Public works projects put people to work and build things we need.

[G_j]

15. FDR did have it right

I agree with everything you said!