The Infra Blog


Fast forward on Infra? High-Speed Rail Announcement

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Here is what the White House announced on January 28th:

“… the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is awarding $8 billion to states across the country to develop America’s first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), these dollars represent an historic investment in the country’s transportation infrastructure, which will help create jobs and transform travel in America.”

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InfrastructureUSA Speaks with Andrés Duany, Architect, Author of “The Smart Growth Manual”

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Andrés Duany, F.A.I.A., is a founding principal at the architecture and planning firm, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ). DPZ is widely recognized as a leader of the New Urbanism, which seeks to end suburban sprawl and urban disinvestment. Duany has authored several books, including “The Smart Growth Manual” (most recently) and “Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream.”

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InfrastructureUSA Speaks with Patrick J. Natale, Executive Director of the American Society of Civil Engineers

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Patrick J. Natale is the Executive Director, and Chief Staff Officer and Secretary, for the American Society of Civil Engineers

Patrick J. Natale on: infrastructure grades, lack of ongoing public concern about infrastructure, infrastructure and leadership, paying for infrastructure improvements, and the importance of government advocacy

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Excerpts from The Brian Lehrer Show, with Gov. Rendell and Steve Anderson

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Wednesday, Jan. 13th

Steve Anderson, Managing Director, InfrastructureUSA.org, & Governor Edward G. Rendell, Building America’s Future, discussed infrastructure with WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer. Excerpts are available below, and you can listen to the entire program under “Infrastructure Matters” on WNYC.org.

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INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE SUBJECT ON WNYC RADIO’S BRIAN LEHRER SHOW - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 10:30AM

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Tune in to the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC at 10:30AM on Wednesday, January 13th, to hear InfrastructureUSA’s own Managing Director, Steve Anderson, and Governor Edward G. Rendell (D-PA), co-founder of the infrastructure coalition Building America’s Future. Join them for a discussion of America’s infrastructure and the need for public engagement.

The Brian Lehrer show airs weekdays at 10AM on 93.9 FM and AM 820; rebroadcast Tuesdays through Saturdays at midnight on AM 820. You can also listen to it live on the WNYC web site.

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DETROIT: A CASE STUDY OF OUR TRANSIT PROBLEMS

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Detroit is a “a grim symbol of America’s diminished status in the world,” according to PBS’ Blueprint America. The former car capital exemplifies our country’s need for more efficient, sustainable and reliable transportation paradigms. PBS will be broadcasting a 90-minute documentary in February that looks at the history of Detroit’s transportation identity, and the state of transportation in America, by setting Detroit’s “blighted urban landscape” against modern examples of success. Watch a preview of BEYOND THE MOTOR CITY below, or visit this PBS.org page to read more…

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The ASCE Report Card: A Final Thought at the Close of 2009

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

In 2005, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The cumulative grade of D was the engineers’ independent, learned assessment of the nation’s infrastructure. At the start of this year, the engineers released the 2009 Report Card, and again, a grade of D was assigned.

Is this progress? Will 2010 present new opportunities that may be seized upon?

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Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the Copenhagen Climate Conference

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Steven Chu released his Power Point Presentation from Monday’s session at the Copenhagen climate conference. For more information on the specific role outlined for the US, check out the executive summary of the Major Economies Forum Technology Action Plan.

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InfrastructureUSA Speaks with Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Maya MacGuineas is President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which is housed at the New America Foundation, and the Director of the Fiscal Policy Program. Before coming to New America, MacGuineas served as a Social Security advisor to the McCain 2000 campaign. She has also worked at the Brookings Institution, the Concord Coalition and on Wall Street.

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InfrastructureUSA Speaks with Financier Felix Rohatyn, well known for his role in preventing the bankruptcy of New York City and an early advocate of infrastructure investment.

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Felix Rohatyn has served as a managing director at investment firm Lazard Frères & Co, an advisor to Lehman Brothers, and U.S. Ambassador to France.  From 1975 to 1993, he was chairman of the Municipal Assistance Corporation of the City of New York, and is largely credited with saving New York City from bankruptcy during [...]

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