U.S. Department of Transportation’s Post

Today, George Mason’s Center for the Study of the Administrative State published my paper exploring the nuances of federal funding and describing the hidden costs of nationalizing our infrastructure policy. These costs include diminished quality, misaligned incentives, regulatory burdens, budgetary substitution, and inflation. Even more concerning is the potential for federal funding and control to undermine our constitutional right to petition and seek local redress for local problems. Policy making is challenging because of the plethora of unintended consequences that inevitably attend any change in the status quo. While it seems intuitive that enhanced federal funding is beneficial for infrastructure, the reality is more nuanced. https://lnkd.in/eKqRgbDh

Great points from Sir John Armitt: The planning system in the UK is failing us. We have to be clear between national and local decision-making. How do we deliver schemes in the national interest? Politicians are accountable to the public and have to be prepared to be open to them. Infrastructure depends on decisions on Why, What and How. We love resolving How but consistently fail to tackle the Why?  We have difficulty learning from the mistakes of others. Number one ask? Consistency in government. 

NI Chamber Growth & Corporate members are invited to attend an In Camera with Dr. Denis McMahon, Permanent Secretary, Department for Infrastructure on 9 February. Topics to be discussed include: 💰Current fiscal challenges, including the plan for a 10-year debt recovery proposal ♻️Climate change and new transportation plans 🚏Regional opportunities arising from the development of the Belfast Grand Central Station 📄Departmental priorities including planning reform Book now⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dr3bcgQV

The February issue of FOCUS Magazine highlights the importance of the regional infrastructure improvements happening in the Greater Lansing area and the role the Capitol Council of Government (CAPCOG) has played in securing funding for these projects. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/egThbC4

#InfrastructureInvestments help drive #economicdevelopment, #competitivestanding, and #qualityoflife.

Important and timely commentary

“Make or break” – that is how last month’s progress review from the National Infrastructure Commission described this moment for the long-term prospects for infrastructure delivery in the UK. Speaking just hours before prime minister Rishi Sunak called a general election for early July, a group of panellists gathered by EG at the UKREiiF conference in Leeds debated what the country’s leaders need to do to be sure this pivotal moment is grasped for the good. “In almost all areas of economic infrastructure, there are very big challenges ahead,” said Neale Coleman, commissioner at the National Infrastructure Commission. “That’s whether you are talking about transport, whether you are talking about the net-zero space, where commitments are needed. “The majority of the spend on economic infrastructure over the next 20 to 30 years is going to have to come from the private sector. For the private sector to make that sort of investment, it needs to be certain about plans, it needs to have stability, it needs to know decisions will be made quickly, and it needs to know when they are going to be committed to for the long term.” For West Midlands Growth Company's Laura Shoaf, CBE certainly is key for progress. She said there were great partnerships in place, but not necessarily the clarity of direction. “Without that kind of certainty it makes it difficult for all the professionals here to do their job properly,” she said. Read more from EG's panel discussion on "The complexity of developing infrastructure in the UK", delivered in partnership with West Midlands Growth Company here ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eJqsNW2y

As we celebrate Infrastructure Week this week (May 13-17, 2024), it’s also a great time to celebrate the outstanding investments made to water and wastewater projects and other infrastructure projects by the Biden-Harris administration. In the link below, you can find actual state-by-state data on how this money has helped your own local community. We are thankful that the federal government is prioritizing investing in infrastructure! #investininfrastructure #watergrants #waterfunding #wastewaterfunding #helpourinfrastructure

Improving the #USA's critical infrastructure should be a bipartisan common goal. Unfortunately for reasons that are unclear, which make no sense, and which show an indifference to the the need for developing politically neutral infrastructure, some politicians are weaponizing the USA's ability to #futureproof its critical infrastructure. If we want to "Make America Great Again" responsible leaders need to step forward who won't block federal funding for infrastructure and then claim credit for initiatives that they voted against when they materialize. Hypocrisy reflects poor leadership which ignores the needs of all citizens of the USA. It benefits no one except for narrow interest groups who seem to be rather naive about projecting the USA's competitiveness in this century. Can you imagine where the USA would stand today if the national highway system was not passed and developed in the 1950's and 1960's? This POLITICO article illustrates the failure of bipartisan infrastructure policy. To read more about politicians who have failed their constituents click on the link below. It is time to reach out to the following politicians and ask them to be honest brokers: * Mariannette Miller-Meeks: Iowa District 1 * Nancy Mace: South Carolina District 1 * David Valadao: California District 22 * Michelle Steel for Congress: California District 45 https://lnkd.in/eV666X5h

At ACHP, we keep track of proposed legislation that might have an impact on historic preservation and our federal review process ("Section 106"). In the current legislative session, we've notice many proposed exemptions to Section 106, including: * A large number (11!) of proposed bills that would exempt broadband projects. * The Limit, Save, Grow Act and the HEATS Act, which would exempt certain energy projects. * The Federal Land Freedom Act, which would exempt energy projects on certain federal lands. * And the Building Chips in America Act, which would exempt certain semiconductor projects. On behalf of ACHP, I called on Congress to reject these exemptions. ACHP already has administrative streamlining options in place, and a strong track record of tailoring reviews to agency and program needs. As just one example, I recently issued a decision that will expedite broadband construction across the country in a manner that avoids or minimizes impact on historic resources. We encourage Members of Congress to learn more about the tools we already have available—and are using—to balance preservation and progress. More below!