Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom’s Post

Q. Foreign governments and private companies own 85% of the US #infrastructure. So why do American taxpayers pay for infrastructure projects and repairs? A. According to the #Cato Institute, taxpayers pay for infrastructure projects and repairs for 2 economic reasons: ▪︎Economies of scale: Large projects funded by #taxpayers can achieve economies of scale. ▪︎Market failures: Infrastructure is subject to market failures that require taxes for efficient provision. ▪︎Infrastructure spending is often thought of as a way to stimulate the #economy . #Investments in infrastructure can: ▪︎Boost long-run productivity Deliver broad-based economic growth ▪︎Advance climate resilience ▪︎Reduce inflationary pressures ▪︎Create more jobs than an increase in household consumption ▪︎Strengthen #supplychains ▪︎Grow the economy sustainably and equitably Federal agencies, such as the Department of #Transportation (#DOT) and the Department of #Energy (#DOE), have legislative authority to issue financial instruments to support infrastructure investments made by states and territories. #Leadership #strategy #regulations #politics #nationalsecurity #dhs https://lnkd.in/ezqBpMu7

My latest Friday Blog has a look at what was in last week's Budget. There were a lot of things we liked, particularly as the coalition Government has signalled its intention to pick up the slack in a lot of infrastructure work. Roads in New Zealand have been desperately under-funded for decades so new investment in highways, including national and regional roads of significance, is desperately needed. Kiwis can’t continue to put up with deteriorating roads that are jeopardising economic growth, which is vital for the community and businesses. The Budget announced the government will spend $1 billion to accelerate land transport projects including Roads of National Significance. This is on top of $3.1 billion already signalled in the Government Policy Statement. Other transport investments include $939 million to repair roads damaged by last year’s severe weather events in the North Island, and $200 million for maintenance and renewals on the national rail network. Another $1.2 billion will go to the new Regional Infrastructure Fund, and the government will also establish a National Infrastructure Agency. It is good news to the sector, particularly when a number of firms are saying things have got a lot tougher, quite quickly. We’re confident the road freight industry will navigate the difficult economic conditions, as they have with previous challenges. Over the past few years, we’ve seen operators successfully deal with the Covid pandemic and severe pressures on the supply chain, acute driver shortages and cost pressures, and now the dual challenges of an economic recession and continued inflationary pressure. Things are tough, but road freight firms are very resilient. The full blog is here. https://lnkd.in/gNNiAjkx

When the government announces the ‘good news’ there is always a question of ‘where’s the bad news’…. More of than not this is hidden away in the details and doesn’t make it into the Chancellor’s headlines of the Budget announcements When there is a fiscal policy that costs money, tax cuts or investment in certain areas of spend, that has to be made up from somewhere and this time it looks like Suffolk are paying the price again… Check out the latest from the Transport and Infrastructure board of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Rather than long term strategic thinking and planning, we are left with short term vote winning policies instead of the policy which makes the most economic senses. #budget2024 #fiscal #fiscalpolicy #suffolkchamber #chamberofcommerce #suffolkbusiness

We need to pursue this debate on the shared responsibility between central and local government for the provision and funding of essential infrastructure. The Three Waters v Water Done Well issue is a stark illustration of what happens when infrastructure is not fit for purpose and modern standards or does not adequately anticipate growth.

More views on the challenges facing the UK - and the current/next government - in terms of infrastructure investment and procurement. This time its the NAO who know what they are talking about ! It may not decide the Election in 2024 but the ability of the next Government to balance investment and reform in public services might well decide the Election in 2028 or 2029. Simply put ... we must find ways to get better and more efficient at delivering - both policy and infrastructure. Of course, more efficient delivery won't itself come without investment, in new systems and, critically, in people and skills to change practice. https://lnkd.in/effPviSd

Infrastructure needs looking at as what it is. An asset. Focus on the Infrastructure that can improve GDP Labour’s autumn budget must reverse ‘decade of decline’ in UK infrastructure https://lnkd.in/e-zRvww2

R1-trillion infrastructure budget must drive industrialisation As the three-year public infrastructure development budget edges closer to R1-trillion, there are concerns on whether the fiscus will be able to afford the total expenditure. Black Business Council (BBC) – a federation of black businesses – is also questioning why the government is not using the budgeted amount to drive localisation and industrialisation. The […]

R1-trillion infrastructure budget must drive industrialisation As the three-year public infrastructure development budget edges closer to R1-trillion, there are concerns on whether the fiscus will be able to afford the total expenditure. Black Business Council (BBC) – a federation of black businesses – is also questioning why the government is not using the budgeted amount to drive localisation and industrialisation. The […]

Given the fixation the Three Horsemen of the Coalition have for PPPs, surely it’s imperative that these documents are in the public domain. This will hopefully enable a more informed debate about key infrastructure investment in future. A key question is who took the decision to withhold the information - a Minister or a public servant?

Warning that government cuts may damage billions of dollars of assets: The annual set-piece that is the government’s Budget can be many things. It can be a chance for our elected officials to show the direction they want the country to take. It can be a chance to put concrete steps in place for the journey towards realising a political vision. It can be a chance to back popular initiatives. Exciting though? There are probably a few dozen folks who find it exciting but rarely is the Budget exciting for most of us. And the headlines and commentary and opinion pieces unified in agreement this year – this was not an exciting Budget. There were no surprises. No lolly scrambles. But there were concrete steps. Amongst the government’s myriad of media releases was news of a National Infrastructure Agency, created to ensure a continuing pipeline of investment. The biggest pothole in New Zealand over recent years has been where a long-term infrastructure strategy should be. Short termism, peaks and troughs, and a litany of disruptions to core services, including water and transport, have instead littered this space. Hopefully the National Infrastructure Agency will help fill this hole, and provide the certainty, the decades-long strategy, the value for money for taxpayers, and the projects New Zealand needs. Spending cuts dominated the coverage and conversations around the Budget. Government departments are losing staff and slashing their expenditure. There’s a real risk that, with all the spending cuts, billions of dollars of government buildings and places will suffer and will be degraded and damaged through a lack of upkeep, caused by a lack of very necessary investment. If this happens, this deterioration will then need correction – and more investment, more spending – in following years. And this would likely cost the government more than they may have ‘saved’ through cutting the necessary ongoing maintenance of these assets. Failing to make the investments needed to protect billions of dollars of government owned places would show the kind of short termism that New Zealand needs to shift away from. It could also show the Cabinet level lack of a ministerial portfolio focused exclusively on our existing built environment – a call we have made to the Prime Minister. This new minister could ensure the longevity of assets, potentially saving the country billions of dollars. With our renewed and refreshed advocacy push, we’ll continue to show the value of facilities management to decision makers and highlight the role our multi-billion-dollar industry can play in asset and infrastructure planning. #FMANZ #facilitiesmanagement #budget2024 #advocacy