Atlanta Mayor Franklin Wants National Focus on Massive USA Infrastructure Needs
By
November 3, 2003
Atlanta Mayor Franklin Wants National Focus on Massive USA Infrastructure Needs
America cities are falling apart. Water lines are leaking, sewage systems are over loaded, and roads and bridges are crumbling. Alarm bells are ringing. But our Presidential candidates and the Bush administration don-t seem to be noticing. It is past time for a National Urban Policy.
Our great nation sacrificed to rebuild Europe's cities after World War II and now we are rebuilding Afghanistan and Iraq. Those were and are important tasks, I-m sure, but if we must tackle the rebuilding of America's cities with the same determination and boldness, we must invest now or watch our drinking water become contaminated and our sewers collapse. We cannot wait for more regional blackouts and living conditions and costs in our major cities to spiral out of control.
In our city of Atlanta, we face a federal court-ordered consent decree to repair our water and sewer systems at a cost of $3 billion. Without state and federal assistance, our families will be forced to pay up to $1,8000 more in annual water bills. This is impossible for hard working people.
I am not exaggerating the crisis facing out cities (according to the US Conference of Mayors).
One-third of the nation's roads are in poor or mediocre condition, costing American drivers an estimated $5.8 billion a year. Road conditions contribute to as many as 13,800 highway fatalities annually. Nearly one-third of America's urban freeways are congested.
29 percent of the nation's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. It is estimated that it will cost $10.6 billion a year for 20 years to eliminate all bridge deficiencies.
Due to either aging or outdated facilities, or severe overcrowding, 75 percent of our nation's school buildings are inadequate to meet the needs of school children.
The nation's 54,000 drinking water systems face an annual shortfall of $11 billion needed to replace facilities that are nearing the end of their useful life and to comply with federal water regulations.
The nation's 16,000 wastewater systems face enormous needs. Some sewer systems are 100 years old. Currently, there is a $12 billion annual shortfall in funding for infrastructure needs for wastewater; however, federal funding has remained flat for a decade. More than one-third of US surface waters do not meet water quality standards.
The Department of Energy estimates that consumers will pay up to $50 billion in higher electric bills to modernize the U. S. power grid.
Finally, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimated that a $1.6 trillion investment is needed to improve America's infrastructure conditions to an acceptable level.
This is a national crisis, which requires a federal solution. A healthy national economy is directly tied to economies of our cities. Our public works are our public assets. We all have an interest in their upkeep and security. America's vast infrastructure affects all of our lives, from the water we drink to the electricity in our homes. Congress and the next President must lead on this issue. A national debate on urban policy must take place. Literally, our future is at stake.
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