Why aren't we spending more billons on infrastructure? (1 Viewer)

[snogger]

Let's just wait until the next financial crisis so we can just fund a bunch of shovel-ready projects whether they make sense or not.

The thing is, it takes years to become "shovel ready". And it costs millions just to get to "shovel ready" when you add up design, permits & Right of Way acquisition.

Fixing bridges does not require any of that. We should have a system where we rate projects by a variety of criteria (need, costs. benefit) and do the ones which makes the most sense. Of course setting up a committee which is void of political cronyism is probably an impossible task.

Fixing is the cheapest, but it still costs money for analysis and design. But you can only fix them so much. Bridges that are over 100 years old eventually need to be replaced. Bridges weren't designed to last 100 years. They also become obsolete due to increasing traffic volumes.

And that's only considering bridges. The story didn't even mention drainage and utilities.

on the bridges.. There is a bridge in St. Paul, Minnesota right now that shows structural defects bad enough that they closed down the outside lanes on both sides.

They've decided that fixing it would only be a temporary solution as the bridge would need to be replaced in 10 years any ways.. So until they come up with the money to replace the bridge, we get to drive over it each day hoping that staying in the middle is good enough

 

[Amused to Death]

More failed NJ bridges - the 2nd this week.  Luckily no one was injured.  By the way, the company I work for recommended repairs on this bridge a couple years ago that never moved forward.  Guess they'll do it now - or wait till someone is injured.

Hey Chris - about that bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund you won't address.....

 

[Chaka]

More failed NJ bridges - the 2nd this week.  Luckily no one was injured.  By the way, the company I work for recommended repairs on this bridge a couple years ago that never moved forward.  Guess they'll do it now - or wait till someone is injured.

Hey Chris - about that bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund you won't address.....

Hey but at least they got the Revel built.  So, y'know...progress!

 

[Mors Venit]

because the poor need their lobsters.

screw the bridges, only rich people use them anyway

 

[Amused to Death]

because the poor need their lobsters.

screw the bridges, only rich people use them anyway

Well sure, poor and their lobsters.  Or maybe the 8.5 billion Chris let Exxon off the hook for could have helped.

 

[jonessed]

California can't do big infrastructure projects anymore.  The Bay Bridge took 20 years at a cost of over $6B to replace a segment that was originally estimated as a $250M retrofit.

$250M wouldn't even cover the repairs to fix the poor design and engineering flaws that are popping up in the new bridge.

The Governor is shopping a $25B water management plan that doesn't actually increase water storage capacity because the state won't build any new dams.

It takes more than just money to get things done.

 

[Amused to Death]

California can't do big infrastructure projects anymore.  The Bay Bridge took 20 years at a cost of over $6B to replace a segment that was originally estimated as a $250M retrofit.

$250M wouldn't even cover the repairs to fix the poor design and engineering flaws that are popping up in the new bridge.

The Governor is shopping a $25B water management plan that doesn't actually increase water storage capacity because the state won't build any new dams.

It takes more than just money to get things done.

The Bay Bridge is a huge project, probably comparable to the on-going Pulaski Skyway repairs currently underway in NJ.  But its not just the major structures that are failing.  The link I posted is for a run of the mill interstate overpass.  We have small structures spanning streams that are collapsing (earlier this week).  NJ just has no money right now (for years actually) to address the basic upkeep.  And I suspect we're not a unique case.

Dams, levies, utilities, drainage...all in desperate need of attention.  We can either make a commitment now to address it or wait for complete failure, maybe costing lives, and rebuild from scratch.  There's no in between. Sooner or later band aids ain't gonna cut it.

 

[The General]

Only so much pie to go around. What you going to cut?

When a candidate tries and cut something the other side says he's soft (defense) hates old people (social security/Medicare) hates poor people (safety network) or is a commie (taxes).

 

[The General]

Only candidate out of all these guys that even remotely was truthful about spending was Rand. Too bad he's also crazy.

 

[jonessed]

The Bay Bridge is a huge project, probably comparable to the on-going Pulaski Skyway repairs currently underway in NJ.  But its not just the major structures that are failing.  The link I posted is for a run of the mill interstate overpass.  We have small structures spanning streams that are collapsing (earlier this week).  NJ just has no money right now (for years actually) to address the basic upkeep.  And I suspect we're not a unique case.

Dams, levies, utilities, drainage...all in desperate need of attention.  We can either make a commitment now to address it or wait for complete failure, maybe costing lives, and rebuild from scratch.  There's no in between. Sooner or later band aids ain't gonna cut it.

I'm all for redirecting California state funds to education and infrastructure.  I'm only one voter though.

Where is New Jersey spending all of its money?

Edit:

Looks like you guys have a major problem with debt and pensions.  It's going to be tough to rebuild infrastructure with those costs escalating at the current rate.

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/16budget/pdf/FY16BudgetBook.pdf

 

[Amused to Death]

I'm all for redirecting California state funds to education and infrastructure.  I'm only one voter though.

Where is New Jersey spending all of its money?

Edit:

Looks like you guys have a major problem with debt and pensions.  It's going to be tough to rebuild infrastructure with those costs escalating at the current rate.

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/16budget/pdf/FY16BudgetBook.pdf

Looks like our governor needs to start addressing a few things.  Glad he's back.

 

[Johnnymac]

We need to rebuild our decimated defense.  At least that's what I'm told.  We just don't put enough money towards that program