By Ed Somers
August 13, 2007

Following the tragic collapse of the bridge in Minneapolis on August 1, Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer released the following statement:

“The nation’s mayors mourn for those who lost their lives in the tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Our hearts and prayers are with those who died and their families and friends, and the many others suffering from injury and shock as a result of this catastrophic event.

“As we have already seen in the immediate response by public safety personnel, volunteers and average citizens in Minneapolis, in times of great tragedy, the American people always respond with kindness, compassion and generosity. We will stand with our friend, Mayor R.T. Rybak, and the citizens of Minneapolis and Minnesota to do everything in our power to help those impacted by the disaster, as well as help the community recover and rebuild.

“The nation’s mayors will also work with and support our friend and former mayor Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman to ensure federal assistance for the recovery and rebuild effort, as assessments of what occurred are in progress."

“The greatness of the American city is in the hearts and souls of its citizens. We must make sure that the basic and necessary infrastructure which serves them is safe and secure. This is a fundamental and combined responsibility of all levels of government. We must understand how this tragedy came to pass; and we must invest in our bridges, roads, transit systems, sewers, waterways, dams, schools, and so much more to make sure that this tragedy is never repeated.”

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak called Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran following the collapse to express his appreciation for all the support being expressed by his fellow mayors.

Throughout its history, the Conference of Mayors has fought for national infrastructure investments.

In November 2003, the Conference of Mayors held a summit with mayors and business leaders in New York City on the issue of infrastructure investment and jobs. At that Summit, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) reported that overall, in 2001 America’s infrastructure grade was a D-, and $1.6 trillion was needed over five years to repair the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Akron Mayor and then Conference Vice President Donald L. Plusquellic said, “When parents put their kids on a school bus, they rely on safe roads, bridges and schools to safeguard their children.”

In March 2005, Plusquellic and Transportation Committee Chair Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels joined with ASCE in releasing their new Report Card that downgraded America’s infrastructure from a D- to a D.

Bridges were given a grade of C, with 27.1 percent (160,570) found to be “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete.” Plusquellic said at that time, “I want to repair a bridge a year too early than a day too late.”

Some progress was made in August of 2005 when President Bush signed into law the $286 billion Federal Transportation Bill (SAFETEA-LU), the largest federal infrastructure investment in the nation’s history.

The bill included a 46 percent increase for public transit, and language for projects of national and regional significance. However, under the bill most funding decisions still remain at the state level for major highway and bridge programs.

The Conference has also been especially engaged in the national debate on the need for a stronger federal commitment to the nation’s rail infrastructure, both passenger and freight rail. The Conference’s call for a National Rail Policy for the 21st Century was first unveiled at the January 2001 Mayors Rail Summit, which was convened by then Conference Vice President and New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial.

In September 2005, the Conference of Mayors released a 414-city water survey that sounded the alarm on “everyday” infrastructure problems as well as catastrophic events. The survey outlined the Mayors’ Top 10 list of water concerns that included: #1 Aging Water Infrastructure; #2 Water Infrastructure Security; and #3 Water Supply Availability. The survey showed that nearly 40 percent of the cities surveyed will not have adequate water supply in 20 years.

Then, in January 2007 Palmer released a new Mayors 10-Point Plan: Strong Cities, Strong Families, for a Strong America. Item #6 calls for “tax incentives, bonds and other measures to support local and state efforts, and stimulate private sector participation, to improve infrastructure including transportation, water, wastewater, brownfields, energy, telecommunications, schools and affordable housing option in America’s cities.”

In addition, at the 2007 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, a major infrastructure resolution was adopted sponsored by Chicago Mayor and Conference of Mayors Past President Richard M. Daley.

The Conference has also worked to highlight the efforts of local governments to address the infrastructure crisis. For example, at the 2007 Annual Conference, the Mayors’ Water Council, chaired by Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez and Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody, released a new report that found that local governments spent $82 billion to provide sewer and water services and infrastructure in FY 2005.

Local government expenditures on sewers is just over 95 percent, with the state share just under five percent. And on water supply, local governments were responsible for 99 percent of all spending. Total spending by local governments from 1991-2005 was $841 billion.

Prior to leaving for the August recess, both the House and Senate approved emergency legislation to make $250 million immediately available for repair and reconstruction of the I-35W bridge.

The day after the collapse, the Senate also passed the National Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2007 (S. 1937), sponsored by Senators Coleman, Klobuchar (MN), Carper (DE) and Voinovich (OH). The bill would create a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States to “ensure that the nation’s infrastructure meets current and future demands and facilitates economic growth,” with a completed study mandated by February 2009 that addresses all matters relating to the state of the nation’s infrastructure, including capacity of infrastructure improvements to sustain current and anticipated economic development, the age, condition and capacity of public infrastructure, repair and maintenance needs, financing methods and investment requirements.

And on August 1, Senators Christopher Dodd (CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Chuck Hagel (NE), introduced the National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2007 (S. 1926) that would streamline the process by which national infrastructure projects are targeted. The bill would create an independent national bank that would identify, evaluate and help finance infrastructure projects of substantial regional and national significance. Infrastructure projects under the Bank’s jurisdiction would include publicly-owned mass transit systems, roads, bridges, drinking water and wastewater systems, and housing properties.

The Dodd-Hagel legislation follows two reports released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in 2005 and 2006 that highlighted the urgent need for a national plan and investments to improve infrastructure needs across the nation. Felix G. Rohatyn and Senator Warren Rudman were Co-Chairmen of the CSIS Commission on Public Infrastructure, and the Conference of Mayors has worked closely with Ambassador Rohatyn on the need for infrastructure investment.

Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) also announced her “Rebuild America Plan” which includes $10 billion for an "Emergency Repair Fund" to address the backlog of critical infrastructure repairs, $250 million in "Emergency Assessment Grants" to the states to conduct immediate safety reviews of their high-priority, high-risk infrastructure assets, $1.5 billion more per year for public transit, $1 billion for intercity passenger rail systems, and other initiatives.