Infrastructure Investment Matters
ASCE hosted an infrastructure investment forum on February 18, infrastructure finance experts joined civil engineers to engage on the latest policies, tools, and resources in capital delivery. The event, hosted at Meridiam North America’s headquarters, offered insight and engagement on modern approaches to resource deployment for transportation, energy, and other critical networks.
To kick-off the forum, ASCE’s president-elect Carol Haddock offered opening remarks stating the need for further partnerships and collaboration on resources advancing infrastructure development.
Public-Private Partnerships
For the opening session, Meridiam’s Nicolas Rubio and Maryland DOT’s Martha Gross joined with Maria Lehman, ASCE’s Interim Executive Director, to discuss how public-private partnerships are improving project efficiencies and performance. Specific focus of the
talk was on Maryland’s Purple Line project supported by both Meridiam and Maryland DOT with comments shared on the need for the public sector to remain committed throughout planning, procurement, and operation. Additionally, panelists stressed the importance of stakeholders to understand how P3s operate ahead of initiating projects.
Asset Management and Life Cycle Costs
WithersRavenel’s Keith Pugh joined with David Agnew (Macquarie), Thomas Mulvihill (KeyBanc), and Chris Dejeanus (Brightly Software) to discuss infrastructure maintenance and output over its life cycle. The exchange emphasized the consequences of deferred maintenance and as many jurisdictions are limited in determining infrastructure owned, communities are hindered in planning, budgeting, and risk management. Panelists recommended including lost-term costs in asset planning and adapting the latest technologies for better maintenance. P3s were also suggested as a way to better manage infrastructure costs over an expected life cycle.
State and Local Financing Tools
Moderator Nate Macek (HDR) provided perspective with panelists Justin Stone (Deloitte), Lisa Eisenberg (Ohio Treasurer), and Dr. Quinbing Cui (University of Maryland Build America Center) on opportunities and risks in financing for states and localities. Participants provided an overview of financing, how it interacts with funding, and what can be expected in accessing private capital for infrastructure. Discussion also centered on understanding available resources from the federal government and tools and resources available to jurisdictions. Panelists suggested that stakeholders bring a greater understanding of financing into the project planning at the early stages and build capacity for jurisdictions to accommodate P3s.
Investing in Energy Resilience
With a focus on reliable and sustainable energy, panelists David Terry (NASEO), Sharon Midgley (Constellation Energy), Ross Fowler (Bank of America) shared perspectives on improving resiliency. With support from moderator Terry Smith (Smith’s Research and Gradings), the session assessed current and ongoing issues across generation, transmission, and distribution. Increased pressures including load growth – such as data centers – as well as retiring generation sources and slow permitting have hindered energy suppliers and utilities ability to address expansion and maintenance needs. In response, panelists recommend permitting reforms both state- and federal-level, improved consistency and communication on policy goals, and grid modernization involving automated load management (short-term) and better interconnection rules.
Recording of the event is available here.
The Investment Forum is the first of three events providing more in-depth exploration of recommendations in the 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.
The next forum is scheduled for May 6 featuring innovations in infrastructure.
