Our nation’s roads and railways, air and sea ports, transit and water treatment systems, and even broadband access are the backbone and infrastructure that ensures the economic prosperity and vitality of our cities and towns. Local governments own 75 percent of the four million mile highway and road network, 90 percent of transit systems, and close to half of the nation’s 600,000 bridges, and they recognize that a properly maintained infrastructure systems can preserve and stimulate economic growth, as well as strengthen our competitive position in world trade.

Local governments also know that our cities and towns are facing a crisis in funding for their current and future infrastructure needs. The statistics are alarming.

• In 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 26 percent of our nation’s 600,000 bridges are structurally deficient or “functionally obsolete.”
  

• The American Society of Civil Engineers has estimated that $1.6 trillion is needed over a five year period to bring the nation’s infrastructure to good condition.
  

• The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated a funding gap approaching $23 billion annually between current local investment in aging and failing water infrastructure and meeting new and more costly federal mandates.

A strong federal role in infrastructure financing and planning, as well as an effective intergovernmental partnership with local governments, is necessary if we are to meet our nation’s infrastructure needs and provide for quality and sustainable economic growth.

Visit our Candidate Issue Matrix to find out where the candidates stand on Support For Infrastructure.