U.S. History Shows Spending on Infrastructure Doesn’t Always End Well

The past proves that people tend to disregard the long-term costs of the plans they make, particularly if they reap the benefits and others pay the costs. We must become more sophisticated than this.

#InfrastructureCrisis, Growth Ponzi Scheme, Infrastructure, Maintenance, Top StoryRichard WhiteAugust 27, 2021maintenance, Infrastructure, history, infrastructure, infrastructure cost, Maintenance, infrastructure maintenance

Selling Oregon into Highway Bondage

The Oregon Department of Transportation has been authorized to issue revenue bonds to finance potentially billions of dollars of highway widening projects.

#InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoads, City Observatory, Infrastructure, Top StoryJoe CortrightAugust 3, 2021debt, Oregon, #NoNewRoads, Infrastructure, infrastructure cost, highways, highway spending, Joe Cortright, City Observatory, toll roads

Our Transportation Budget Is a Fraud We Perpetuate on Ourselves

The Senate has agreed to discuss an infrastructure bill…but what does it matter when real reform isn't going to come from multitrillion-dollar infrastructure proposals?

#InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoads, Federal Government, Infrastructure, Marohn, Public Transit, Transportation, Top StoryCharles MarohnAugust 2, 2021Infrastructure, infrastructure, Infrastructure Week, infrastructure bill, federal government, #NoNewRoads

The Coming Tsunami of Park Infrastructure Needs

Rather than building new parks, it’s time we #DoTheMath on the ones we’ve already got.

#DotheMath, #InfrastructureCrisis, Maintenance, Public Space, Top StoryDoug BatailleJuly 27, 2021#DoTheMath, Parks and Recreation, Parks, parks, public space, maintenance

A Preview of Bi-Partisan Compromise on Infrastructure (Sorry, It's Not Good)

We should not be cheering on simulacrums of reform when the majority of spending is going to programs that are making us weaker as a country, as cities, and as neighborhoods.

#InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoads, Infrastructure, Local Government, Marohn, Politics, Transportation, Top StoryCharles MarohnJuly 6, 2021MoveMN, Infrastructure, transportation, walkability, bikeability, #NoNewRoads, infrastructure cult, local government, Minnesota

45,000 Bridges in the U.S. Are 50+ Years Old. And They Are Beginning to Fail.

The recent failure of a Memphis bridge is costing millions every day. And there are 45,000 others like it in the U.S. that could suffer the same fate.

Podcast, Upzoned, Transportation, Infrastructure, #InfrastructureCrisis, Maintenance, Top StoryStrong TownsJune 30, 2021Podcast, Upzoned, Infrastructure, infrastructure maintenance, maintenance, memphis

A National Infrastructure Bank is a Stupid Idea

A bill in Congress is pushing for a National Infrastructure Bank, which would mean (in theory) bold federal action to address America's infrastructure crisis. It's a big idea. It's also a really bad one.

#InfrastructureCrisis, Federal Government, Infrastructure, Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnJune 14, 2021Infrastructure, infrastructure cult, Infrastructure Bank, infrastructure cost, federal government, top-down, South Carolina

The Republican Roadmap on Infrastructure (It's Not a Real Plan)

The Republican Roadmap isn't a real alternative to the American Jobs Plan, and even if it was, we must stop talking about our national infrastructure strategy in terms of “Democratic versus Republican” approaches.

#InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoads, Infrastructure, Marohn, Politics, Top StoryCharles MarohnJune 1, 2021American Jobs Plan, Infrastructure, infrastructure bill, #NoNewRoads, politics, top-down

When it Comes to Infrastructure, the American Jobs Plan is Business as Usual

The Plan pretends to dig us out of the infrastructure hole we've dug ourselves into. In reality, it's making the hole bigger.

#InfrastructureCrisis, Federal Government, Infrastructure, Marohn, The Infrastructure Cult, Top StoryCharles MarohnApril 14, 2021American Jobs Plan series, American Jobs Plan, Infrastructure, infrastructure bill, federal government

The American Jobs Plan Will Make Our Infrastructure Crisis Worse

There is nothing in the plan that is going to substantively change the trajectory of the North American development pattern.

#InfrastructureCrisis, Federal Government, Infrastructure, Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnApril 12, 2021Infrastructure, infrastructure bill, federal government, American Jobs Plan, American Jobs Plan series

Joseph Kane: Prioritizing People (Not Projects) In Infrastructure Spending

What role should federal infrastructure spending play in the economic recovery — and how can we make sure that spending addresses the real needs of people?

Podcast, Infrastructure, #InfrastructureCrisis, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 22, 2021Brookings Institute, Infrastructure, infrastructure cult

After the Innovation Revolution, Who Will Clean the Streets?

In an era in which so many people aspire to be the next Steve Jobs, who will channel their ambition in the pursuit of caretaking work?

Infrastructure, #InfrastructureCrisis, Top Story, Top Story 2Anthony BarrJanuary 19, 2021maintenance, infrastructure maintenance, infrastructure cult, innovation

The Act Like You INVEST In America Act

The problem isn’t a lack of political consensus. The problem is consensus around a failed vision of how to achieve American prosperity.

#InfrastructureCrisis, Infrastructure, Marohn, TransportationCharles MarohnJuly 20, 2020infrastructure bill, informality, federal government, federal funding, federal transportation bill

You Were Mentioned on the Floor of Congress

For years, you’ve been doing the work of building a stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous community. Members of Congress are noticing.

#InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoads, Membership, Top Story, Success StoryJohn PattisonMarch 17, 2020Infrastructure, infrastructure maintenance, maintenance, Congress, federal government, media feature

When Is It Time to Pull the Plug on a Budget-Busting Road?

Cities with far more street infrastructure than they can maintain are in triage mode, and are going to have to decide what to keep paved and what to walk away from. Even if they won’t admit it yet.

Top Story, Herriges, #InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoadsDaniel HerrigesFebruary 24, 2020infrastructure maintenance, infrastructure cost, bike trails, St. Paul, Minnesota

Just Say No

If you want to be a Strong Town, your community must redirect its energy to things that will make it financially better off and more prosperous.

Marohn, #InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoads, Top StoryCharles MarohnFebruary 24, 2020Public Return on Investment, Infrastructure, public investment

The Fight For #NoNewRoads Is Alive and Well in Washington State

Veteran advocates for a sane and financially sustainable transportation policy in Washington State see a chance to turn crisis into opportunity. And they're hoping to get state leaders to see it too.

#InfrastructureCrisis, #NoNewRoads, #StrongCitizens, Taking Action, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 3, 2020infrastructure spending, #NoNewRoads, Seattle, Washington, Mike McGinn

What Should My City Do About Our Infrastructure Backlog?

If your community has a huge backlog of unfunded infrastructure maintenance — and it’s the rare one that doesn’t — there are some basic and obvious steps that need to be taken.

Marohn, #InfrastructureCrisis, Cost of Development, Engineering Profession, The Infrastructure Cult, Top StoryCharles MarohnJanuary 13, 2020infrastructure cult, infrastructure maintenance, Infrastructure, Minnesota, Memphis, Shreveport

Best of 2019: #NoNewRoads Gains Traction in D.C.

Until America gets its infrastructure priorities straight, the last thing we need is to pump more spending into a broken system. 2019 felt like a breakthrough year for our call for #NoNewRoads, one in which we had more influential allies and receptive ears on this point than ever before.