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HUDSON VALLEY PATTERN FOR PROGRESS

Infrastructure Trends

In the past few months, the tragic gas explosion in Harlem and Vice President Biden’s description of LaGuardia Airport as
a “third world airport” made national news. In the Hudson Valley, the massive rebuilding of the Tappan Zee Bridge and a
proposed $153 million private desalination plant have made headlines. The common topic: Infrastructure. Today, the
world demands solid and dependable underpinnings to the activities of daily life. Infrastructure means livelihoods—think
of the 14.2 million workers employed nationally in the sector (Brookings, 2014). It means survival, especially in terms of
critical resources such as water and roads. And it means a set of unprecedented challenges, at all levels.

In the Hudson Valley, hurricanes Irene, Lee, and Sandy tested the region’s infrastructure and identified major gaps in our
resiliency to these types of disasters. According to the National Climate Assessment, climate change does already and will
continue to affect our transportation, water, wastewater and other infrastructure (White House, 2014).

The American Society of Civil Engineers graded the nation’s infrastructure a D+ in 2013, an upgrade from
a D in 2012 (American Society of Civil Engineers, 2013). The National Association of Manufacturers
(NAM) notes that 70% of manufacturers believe that American infrastructure is in poor or fair shape and
needs improvement. Surprisingly, 61% of NAM members would be willing to pay more taxes, fees, and
tolls if certain that revenues would go to specific infrastructure improvements (NAM, 2013).

The United States (2.6%) has fallen behind China (8.5%), Japan
(5.0%), South Korea (3.9%), Canada (3.9%), and others in the
percentage of our GDP spent on infrastructure (McKinsey and
Company, 2013). The amount spent on infrastructure in the
United States has dropped precipitously in the last decade with
the majority of that decrease on the state and local side. Total
government spending on infrastructure nationally has dropped
25% between 2002 and 2013. As citizens we expect our
infrastructure to work and to work well. When it works, people
barely notice it. But when it doesn’t, it affects us all.

Pattern Surveys the Region

In light of the decline in the condition of infrastructure,
concerns of municipal officials, and limited government
financial resources, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress has
chosen to research and evaluate the state of the Hudson
Valley’s infrastructure: not the big national headline projects,
but the every day water, sewer and road systems, or
infrastructure with a “little i”. A survey conducted in late 2013 to early 2014 is the start of that work.

This survey provides a gauge of current sentiments about infrastructure in the Hudson Valley. Pattern surveyed all mayors
and supervisors in the nine-county region comprised of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan,
Ulster and Westchester counties.

The Pattern survey contained 27 questions with a 52.9% response rate far
exceeding standard survey response rates. Ultimately, 126 out of 238
municipalities responded. Response rate by county varied from a high in
Ulster County of 80% to a low in Rockland County of 29%. Given the
opportunity to remain anonymous, 28% of respondents requested
anonymity.

The survey focused on water, sewer and transportation infrastructure and
its management; however, the survey also asked about other types of
infrastructure such as natural gas, broadband and
cellular service.

In addition to the survey, Pattern gathered data from
outside sources including the Office of the New York State Comptroller, the Federal Highway
Administration, the Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis as well as other sources.

Download full version (PDF): A Widening Gap

About Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress
pattern-for-progress.org
Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress is a not-for-profit policy, planning, advocacy and research organization whose mission is to promote regional, balanced and sustainable solutions that enhance the growth and vitality of the Hudson Valley.

Tags: Hudson Valley, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, survey

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2014 at 11:29 am and is filed under Aging Infrastructure, Competitiveness, Employment, Funding, Infra Views, Jobs, Local, Policy, Private Investment . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.