At the policy forum in Oklahoma City, Rendell and Cornett noted that while leadership on the national level has stalled, governors and mayors across the country are making strides with new laws in four states designed to increase transportation funding this year. Speakers at the forum all agreed that Washington must act on a long-term infrastructure plan in order to keep the U.S. competitive and to improve the quality of life for all Americans.
“As a former Governor, I love that states and cities are tackling these tough issues. Prioritizing repairs, building smarter electrical grids, and creating private-public partnerships are all wise investments for communities. But cities and states cannot do it alone,” said Rendell. “Make no mistake, we need the federal government to step up and fund the projects that are regionally and nationally significant. For far too long, the federal government has failed to act. That cost of inaction is tremendous and as a result, we’re falling behind our global competitors.”
Policy forums such as these serve as a tremendous opportunity for leaders and experts to share ideas and discuss specific challenges.
As you well know, earlier this year, ASCE released the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which awarded our nation’s infrastructure a D+. Simply, poor roads and bridges drive up the cost of doing business. Likewise, our ailing ports and waterway systems hurt our ability to compete in a global marketplace. It is clear that if we want to stay economically competitive, we must take immediate action.
We applaud Mayor Cornett, Governor Rendell, Building America’s Future, the OKC Chamber, and all who came out today to support infrastructure investment. Only through working together and building an impassioned collation can we hope to raise our infrastructure grade, improve our economy, and build sustainable communities for future generations.