Jablonski 1

Bret Jablonski
Lori Bedell
CAS 138T
4/10/15

Road Block
Government Inaction is exacerbating the Nations Infrastructure Crisis
There is a crisis growing in America. However, unlike a typical crisis, this one does not
receive the large amount of attention from media, the public, and government officials that a true
crisis deserves. Instead, this problem has grown slowly, going undetected in the eyes of the
public despite affecting every major metropolitan area across the nation. The countrys
infrastructure, the backbone of the nation, is crumbling. The issue finally caught the national
spotlight following the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis in 2007, which killed over
ten people and left over a hundred injured.1 The problem with Americas infrastructure reaches
far beyond potholes, what most of the population thinks of regarding poor infrastructure
especially following a cold and snowy winter. Instead, the systems that every industry in the
country are becoming unsafe, unusable, or obsolete following decades of neglect.
Infrastructure plays a crucial role in society, being responsible for providing the systems
to facilitate trade, communication, and the movement of people. Without a properly functioning
national infrastructure system, the nations economic efficiency falters. The main cause for the
failing of Americas infrastructure is old age. The last major changes to come to the nations
infrastructure came in 1956 with the creation of the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System.2

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President Eisenhower devised the plan to connect all of Americas major urban areas with a
system of interconnecting highways. The plan was a first of its kind, revolutionizing the way
infrastructure systems would be created. The President devised the plan to enhance the nations
economy, defense, and mobility.3 Since the creation of the interstate system, there have been no
major overhauls that match the changes the plan initially brought. Over the decades, roadways
and bridges begin to deteriorate and ultimately fail, costing the nation dollars and lives.
Americas roadways and bridges have felt the brunt of the years of neglect by the federal
government. These systems have fell below the standard level of maintenance needed to operate
at peak efficiency because of the lack of funding.4 For years this problem has been at the hands
of federal lawmakers, yet no one has had the courage to take the next step to secure the needed
additional funds. Government officials at the local, state, and federal level must come to realize
the severity of the problem with the nations infrastructure due to serious underfunding for
decades. Because of the lack of needed capital to properly address the issue, the situation has not
gotten better, it has not stayed the same, but it only gets worse with each year of underfunding.
Starting with the proper allocation of funds to correct the problem, Americas infrastructure can
return to a healthy state, improving the nations economy and society as a whole.
Deteriorating Roadways
Americas bridges are in poor condition. Over 61,000 bridges are listed as being
structurally deficient, a slight improvement from the 63,000 crossings that received that mark the
previous year.5 This mark means one in every nine bridges nationwide is deemed as needing to be
replaced or repaired in a serious manner.6 Such a high percentage of bridges fallen in need of
serious repair because of the age of the structures. The average age of a bridge in the United
States is forty-two years old.7 Most of these bridges have been in use much longer than the

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original intended lifespan for the bridge. Bridges designed decades ago were never intended to
handle the stress they are put under from todays traffic. More people drive and cars are heavier
than they were decades ago, resulting in bridges needing to handles heavier and more frequent
loads than was originally thought of.8 Instead of making the full repairs or replacements that are
necessary to keep a bridge in proper order, patchwork repairs are completed to keep the bridge
secure for the time being.
This process of making temporary repairs as opposed to a more long term solution is
favored because of the costs associated with those repairs. Pennsylvania currently ranks as the
worst state when grading the health of bridges. A staggering twenty-five percent of bridges in
Pennsylvania are considered to be structurally deficient.9 The number of bridges in the state in
need of repair has actually increased despite efforts to fix the problem. So many bridges are in
need of repair that construction crews cannot keep up with the growing demand. With
insufficient funding, crews cannot fix bridges fast enough, and the number of deficient bridges
rises. In order to make a significant difference in the health of bridges, a large increase in funding
is needed. One of the busiest stretches of highway in the nation is a segment of I-95 that runs
through Philadelphia. In the 22 miles of this roadway that run through the city there are fifteen
structurally deficient bridges. To fix those fifteen bridges, there would be a total cost of $7
billion.10 However, the real cost for a project of that magnitude reaches far beyond the monetary
price. In order to properly repair the roadway, the busiest highway in one of the countrys most
congested cities would have to shut down. The external costs suffered by all people from traffic,
detours, and disruptions to shipping would far exceed the price of the physical repairs. Despite
the large price tag associated with properly tackling a problem of that size, lawmakers cannot
look at the price and determine it cannot be done. Instead, they must commit the necessary funds

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to the project so progress can be made in decreasing the total number of at risk bridges. By not
applying the needed amount of funding, the problem will only continue to grow.
Projected National Funding Gap11

Not addressing the problem allows old issues to linger and continue to reappear time and time
again. The continuation of old problems coupled with other roadways growing in age combine to
increase the deficit in infrastructure spending.
While lawmakers may be hesitant to commit such a large sum of budget to infrastructure,
the high initial price is worth the investment to make the public safer, more efficient, and more
productive while also creating jobs and increases tax revenue.12 In order to resolve the problem
with the next decade, an increase in annual spending of about $10 billion is needed at the local,
state, and federal levels.13 An investment of this size can create millions of permanent jobs as
more workers are needed to keep up with all the repairs.14 One of the biggest incentives to repair

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Americas roadways is to prevent the economic losses that would ensue if the system is allowed
to deteriorate.
Economic Impact of Failed Roadway Infrastructure15

American families and businesses would become hindered by a fractured highway system.
Workers would be paid less as companies must devote more of their spending toward shipping
costs as opposed to raising wages. Lower wages paired with increased spending on transportation
takes over $1,000 out of a familys income.16 While this does not seem like a significant amount.
This money could be the deciding factor for a family near the poverty line to have a home or
more meals a year. Because American businesses are spending more on shipping, they become
less efficient, lowering the countrys overall trade output at a cost of nearly $900 billion to the
U.S. GDP.17

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While economic aspects certainly play a large role in a decision to increase funding for
roadways, public safety statistics are invaluable. Every step should be taken in order to prevent
unnecessary deaths and injuries due to poor road conditions. Each year in the United States, tens
of thousands of people die as a result of auto accidents. Taking steps to improve road conditions
such as widening and increasing the number of lanes, removing obstacles, and removing road
signs will reduce the number of incidents and save lives. It is estimated that an investment of
$100 million spent on highway safety over a ten year period will save 150 lives.18 The ability to
save lives through simple improvement measures proves just as or more important than
improving the economy when taking the steps to increase funding for Americas infrastructure.
Past and Present Attempts at Increased Funding
While almost all politicians agree that more funding is needed to improve the
infrastructure system, how to reach that goal is what has created inaction on the problem, making
it impossible to move forward. Currently, the federal spending on infrastructure is allocated
through the Highway Trust Fund. However, this trust fund has been running out of finances over
the recent years. The majority of the money in the fund is generated from the federal gasoline
tax. The tax currently sits at 18 cents per gallon, but this tax has not been raised since 1993 and
revenue decreases as fuel efficiency in vehicles improves.19 Advocates for increased
infrastructure spending have pushed for a raise in the tax to help keep up with the growing costs
of repairing roads and bridges. Government officials do not want to be the ones responsible for
raising taxes. Since no one wants to be seen as the person responsible, inaction on the issue
persists. Instead of coming up with a long term agreement to fund the Highway Trust Fund,
legislation continuously extends programs to keep the trust fund treading water. Last July
Congress approved the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 extending the program

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that states rely on for funding infrastructure projects for another eight months.20 Another
extension or new program must be agreed upon by May when the extension expires. While
extensions of the program keeps money flowing into states to improve infrastructure, it provides
no long term solution to the problem. More funding is necessary in order to reach a more
permanent solution nationwide.
In order to get larger projects accomplished, local government agencies have taken it
upon themselves to increase funding. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the
agency in control of bridges and tunnels between the two states, has been increasing toll rates
every year to help subsidize the costs of repairing its roadways.21 Continuously raising the price
to cross the state boundary serves two purposes in the effort to improve infrastructure. The first
being increased revenue from the people that still decide to cross using the bridges and tunnels.
The second benefit is decreased congestion as more people will want to avoid the high toll and
opt to take a bus, train, or ferry (which are also controlled by the Port Authority).22 Decreased
traffic on the roadways slows the deterioration of the roads, resulting in repairs needing to be
made less often. While drastically increasing toll prices in major metropolitan areas works for
New York, where other modes of transportation are plentiful, the method may not be as
successful in areas that are almost entirely dependent upon auto travel.
Potential Solutions
While disagreements on how to pay for public funding of infrastructure keeps Congress
in a deadlock, President Obama recently proposed a plan to take some of the burden off of the
public sector. The President is launching the Build America Investment Initiative, which
encourages private corporations to invest in the nations infrastructure.23 While funding from the

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private sector will not be nearly enough to make up for the inaction in public spending, every bit
helps.
One of the most effective ways relieve pressure on Americas roadways is by investing in
other types of infrastructure. If there is a better or comparable way to move people and goods
some people will opt for the alternative resulting in less drivers using the roads. Lowering the
daily wear on roads and bridges will lower the number and frequency of repairs being done on
those roadways. One of the most promising and fastest growing transit modes worldwide is high
speed railways. However, the United States currently has zero miles of high speed rail.24 Should
a network of these rail lines be constructed, use of this system will reduce congestion on
roadways.
Concluding Remarks
An infrastructure crisis has hit America after years of inaction and neglect in Congress.
Without increased funding to meet the growing amount of structurally deficient bridges and
roadways, the situation will only worsen, resulting in economic consequences. Poor roadway
conditions will hinder companies by creating higher transport costs and will limit American
companies abilities to compete in a global overseas market. Federal lawmakers must realize the
severity of the infrastructure crisis and arrive at a decision to increase spending in the Highway
Trust Fund. Doing so will ensure a more efficient, more productive, and safer America.

Endnotes
1. Sander, Libby, and Susan Saulny. "Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis Kills at Least 7." The
New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Aug. 2007. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.
2. "National Highway System." National Highway System. Federal Highway
Administration, 26 June 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.

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3. Ibid
4. Croft, Steve. "Falling Apart: America's Neglected Infrastructure." CBSNews. CBS
Interactive, 23 Nov. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
5. Clawson, Laura. "U.S. Has 61,000 Structurally Deficient Bridges-and Highway Funding
Is about to Run out." U.S. Has 61,000 Structurally Deficient Bridges-and Highway
Funding Is about to Run out. Daily Kos, 1 Apr. 2015. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
6. Croft, Steve. "Falling Apart: America's Neglected Infrastructure." CBSNews. CBS
Interactive, 23 Nov. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
7. "2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure." 2013 Report Card for Americas
Infrastructure. American Society of Civil Engineers, 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
8. Croft, Steve. "Falling Apart: America's Neglected Infrastructure." CBSNews. CBS
Interactive, 23 Nov. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
9. Ibid
10. Ibid
11. "Failure to Act: The Economic Impact of Current Investment Trends in Surface
Transportation Infrastructure." InfrastructureUSA Citizen Dialogue About Civil
Infrastructure RSS. InfrastructureUSA, 27 July 2011. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
12. Sanders, Bernie. "Rebuilding the American Powerhouse." Washington Times. The
Washington Times, 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
13. "2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure." 2013 Report Card for Americas
Infrastructure. American Society of Civil Engineers, 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
14. Sanders, Bernie. "Rebuilding the American Powerhouse." Washington Times. The
Washington Times, 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
15. "The Rough Road Ahead: What Is the Cost?" InfrastructureUSA Citizen Dialogue About
Civil Infrastructure RSS. InfrastructureUSA, 11 July 2011. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
16. Ibid
17. Ibid
18. "Key Facts About America's Surface Transportation System and Federal Funding." KEY
FACTS ABOUT AMERICAS SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND FEDERAL
FUNDING (n.d.): n. pag. TRIP National Fact Sheet. TRIP, Apr. 2015. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.
19. Croft, Steve. "Falling Apart: America's Neglected Infrastructure." CBSNews. CBS
Interactive, 23 Nov. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
20. "Key Facts About America's Surface Transportation System and Federal Funding." KEY
FACTS ABOUT AMERICAS SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND FEDERAL
FUNDING (n.d.): n. pag. TRIP National Fact Sheet. TRIP, Apr. 2015. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.
21. "Port Authority of New York & New Jersey." Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
22. Ibid
23. Shear, Michael D. "Public Problems, Private Dollars: Obama Seeks Infrastructure Repair
Money." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 July 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.
24. Croft, Steve. "Falling Apart: America's Neglected Infrastructure." CBSNews. CBS
Interactive, 23 Nov. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.