By Ron Thaniel
November 1, 2004

Speaking before the American Society of Civil Engineers board meeting in Baltimore October 20, Conference President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic called for increased federal commitments to the nation's infrastructure, stating, "investment in infrastructure is not only good for cities and their citizens, but it is good for the nation."

"If we don't invest in cities, it will cost everyone," said Plusquellic.

Plusquellic who declared smart infrastructure investment a chief element in the recently released Conference of Mayors '04 Metro Agenda for America's Cities, told the engineers "it is well past time for increased and sustained federal infrastructure investment in our cities.

"America's cities are competing with Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo, Delhi, Barcelona, and Toronto among other global cities with 19th and early 20th century infrastructure," said Plusquellic.

In his remarks, Plusquellic emphasized that "it is simply an economic imperative that there be sufficient public capital to ensure that critical infrastructure investments are made and that critical infrastructure assets be maintained to support the national economy."

Speaking of the American Society of Civil Engineers Report Card for America's Infrastructure, Plusquellic said, "together we have a new benchmark for calling for investment in our nation's most potent economic engines, our metropolitan economies."

"It is my hope that the information provided by our partnership will guide future federal policy decisions on infrastructure investment," said Plusquellic.

Closing on this theme, Plusquellic said, "Local infrastructure projects are no longer a local issue."

He noted, "These infrastructure projects are of national significance, of national economic importance, and of substantial costs, exceeding local capital resources.