As a result of both public and private investment, our rail network received the highest grade in the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, with a “B”. In addition to increasing investment, additional safeguards on infrastructure funding would further address these needs. Often, funds designated for infrastructure—most often transportation —are raided and used for other purposes, adding to the growing backlog of needs. The creation of a trust fund or lockbox ensures the funding is used for its designated purpose of improving infrastructure. Leadership & Planning Smart investment will only be possible with leadership, planning and a clear vision for our nation’s infrastructure. All levels of government, along with input from business, labor and nonprofit organizations, must prioritize projects that benefit the economy, public safety and quality of life. Effective planning should include tools that ensure limited funding is used wisely. For example, life cycle cost analysis helps an infrastructure owner consider all the costs associated with a project, including its operation and maintenance, which is often overlooked during the design and building stages. Furthermore, to address investing in maintenance, there should be incentives for state and local governments and the private sector to do so. There is opportunity for the private sector to play a role in infrastructure improvement. To capitalize on this financing source, projects that would be attractive to the private sector should be identified for public-private partnerships. The permitting process is another area where planning challenges arise because, oftentimes, there are conflicting directives from different permitting agencies. The Trump Administration’s efforts are a promising step in ensuring that the process is streamlined. Ultimately, the U.S. needs a process that has safeguards to protect the natural environment, brings priority projects to reality more quickly and secures costs savings while providing greater clarity on regulatory requirements. Our nation’s infrastructure challenges are significant yet solvable if the nation commits to increased investment, bold leadership, comprehensive planning and thoughtful preparation for the future. Preparation for the Future By utilizing new approaches, materials and technologies our infrastructure can be built more resiliently, to more quickly recover after a hazard event, and sustainably to improve the “triple bottom line” with clear economic, social and environmental benefit. Technology is changing rapidly; evident from the evolution of the cell phone over the past decade. The same is true for those that will transform infrastructure. By considering emerging technologies and shifting social and economic trends—such as autonomous vehicles, distributed power generation and storage, and larger ships—when building infrastructure, it will be better positioned for long-term utility. Preparing for the future can start by improving land use planning, to consider the balance between the built and natural environments, along with population trends, to assess better infrastructure needs. Those decisions can be further protected by developing active community resiliency programs to establish communications systems and recovery plans that reduce impacts on the local economy after extreme events, such as severe weather and seismic events. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2018 • 17
