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

When the Company Leaves the Company Town

A Studebaker factory once brought jobs to South Bend, IN, but what’s happened to the city (and its infrastructure) now that the factory has closed its doors?

#DotheMath, Infrastructure, Davis, Maintenance, Urban3, Top StorySarah DavisAugust 19, 2021Indiana, South Bend, maintenance, infrastructure maintenance, Urban3, #DoTheMath, auto-oriented

The Reconnecting Communities Act: What Was Promised Vs. What's Being Delivered

The $20 billion that was supposed to be dedicated to the Reconnecting Communities Act has been cut down to $1 billion. Naturally, people are disappointed.

Upzoned, Podcast, Federal Government, Infrastructure, Top StoryStrong TownsAugust 11, 2021Podcast, Upzoned, American Jobs Plan, infrastructure bill, highways, race, Infrastructure

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

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

How Dutch Cities Restored the “Freedom to Roam”

Five decades ago, Delft made some urban planning decisions that granted children the freedom to freely and safely wander the streets of their city.

Bikeability, Infrastructure, Roads and Streets, Success Story, Transportation, Urban Design, Walkability, #SlowtheCars, Top StoryMelissa Bruntlett & Chris BruntlettJune 29, 2021Netherlands, Delft, bikeability, bike infrastructure, history, #SlowTheCars

What Comes Next, When the Freeways Are Gone?

The federal government has proposed $20 billion to be allocated toward targeted freeway removal, but will that be enough to fix America’s cities?

Podcast, Upzoned, Transportation, Infrastructure, Roads and Streets, Top StoryStrong TownsJune 16, 2021Podcast, Upzoned, freeways, freeway removal, Infrastructure

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

Who Pays for Growth in Collier County, Florida: Part 4

New suburban development creates budget-devouring road liabilities. And the way developers are asked to mitigate their traffic impacts is only making the problem worse.

Herriges, Infrastructure, Roads and Streets, Rural, Transportation, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesMay 27, 2021collier county series, Florida, roads, Development, transportation, series, traffic engineering

Who Pays for Growth in Collier County, Florida: Part 3

Collier County is poised to spend over $200 million extending utilities to a whole new, previously rural, portion of the county. Let's #DoTheMath on this plan.

#DotheMath, Finance, Growth Ponzi Scheme, Herriges, Infrastructure, Rural, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesMay 26, 2021collier county series, water, Infrastructure, Growth Ponzi Scheme, Florida, #DoTheMath

A New Direction for Car-Dependent Orlando?

Orlando (and the surrounding state of Florida) has long been reliant on cars. But the city’s new director of transportation hopes to change that.

Podcast, Upzoned, Transportation, Roads and Streets, Infrastructure, #NoNewRoads, Top StoryStrong TownsMay 19, 2021Podcast, Upzoned, Florida, car dependency, transportation, Disney

Want to build a strong town? Make it work for people with disabilities.

Significant effort should be dedicated to creating more accessible built environments—because doing so benefits people of all abilities.

Infrastructure, Member Post, Public Space, Urban Design, Walkability, Top StorySteve WrightMay 7, 2021disability, Infrastructure, walkability, Justice, #PedestrianUnfriendly

Small Decisions Adding Up: A Case for the American Jobs Plan

Collective engagement repeated thousands of times starts to ripple outward and upward. With the AJP, we see it can even reach the ears of a President.

Federal Government, Infrastructure, Politics, Top StoryMichael McGinnMay 3, 2021American Jobs Plan, infrastructure bill, Mike McGinn

The Federal Government Doesn't Own Infrastructure

The federal government pays the upfront costs for infrastructure, but the responsibility for its maintenance is yours. Forever.

Federal Government, Infrastructure, Local Government, Maintenance, Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnApril 19, 2021Infrastructure, federal government, American Jobs Plan, maintenance, infrastructure maintenance

How Local Leaders Should Adapt to the American Jobs Plan

Do no harm: put your people and their needs at the heart of your approach. Here’s how.

Federal Government, Infrastructure, Marohn, Politics, Top StoryCharles MarohnApril 16, 2021American Jobs Plan, American Jobs Plan series, federal government, federal funding, maintenance

The American Jobs Plan Delays Necessary Infrastructure Reform

The top-down approach puts systems ahead of people and politics ahead of place—which is not what we need if we want to actually fix our infrastructure.