IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

Darren Olson, the engineer leading the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE), 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure is vice president and assistant department head of the Water Resources Department at Christopher B. Burke Engineering in Chicago, said looking at life-cycle-cost savings is part of resiliency.

“When we are looking at a highway and budget for a transit lane, that is more expensive now, but it pays off over time,” he said.

“When we repair a road or make it more resilient, we also need to add more space for pedestrians and biking.

We need to make sure we’re not leaving anybody behind, that we are improving society when everybody is more mobile and more active.”

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

Investing in infrastructure keeps the United States competitive in the global economy

The ASCE urges that the momentum must continue, especially with resiliency.

“Thirty years ago, very few realized that much of our infrastructure is over 100 years old. Back then, few contemplated that the climate was going to change,” 

said Darren Olson, the engineer leading the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE), 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure is vice president and assistant department head of the Water Resources Department at Christopher B. Burke Engineering in Chicago.

 

 

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

Darren Olson, the engineer leading the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE), 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure is vice president and assistant department head of the Water Resources Department at Christopher B. Burke Engineering in Chicago.

He said the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act plus the Inflation Reduction Act provided more than a trillion dollars for much-needed infrastructure, while also supporting myriad jobs.

Investing in infrastructure keeps the United States competitive in the global economy, Olson said. 

He noted that safe inland waterways and great ports allow things like grain and soybeans to be shipped overseas, keeping this nation competitive against other producers such as Brazil.

 

SIDEWALKS SHOULD NEVER BE CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION

CLOSERS FOOLISHLY FORCE MULTIPLE CROSSINGS 

OF DANGEROUS TRAFFIC TO COMPLETE A JOURNEY

Bravo for the scaffolding & wide, gently graded ramps to maintain pedestrian mobility for all during construction around the Freedom Tower on the west side of Biscayne Boulevard.

Tragically, dozens of downtown Miami sidewalks are closed for construction — putting people on peril.

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

Darren Olson, the engineer leading the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE), 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure is vice president and assistant department head of the Water Resources Department at Christopher B. Burke Engineering in Chicago.

This year’s grade was C: the highest overall grade ever awarded. ASCE credited increased investment at the federal and state levels for elevating the nation’s infrastructure grade above 2021’s C-minus.

“Infrastructure — it’s not a red thing or a blue thing — it improves life if we have clean water, safe sanitation and the commute to work is easier,” Olson said.

“Transit and broadband affect everything we do.

The digital transformation/AI is a huge topic.

Without infrastructure, there is no AI, no massive data centers.”

 

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

Earlier this year, California passed a wildfire aid package that dedicated up to $1 billion to disaster response and emergency operations while also making allocations for rebuilding homes and schools.

“In the near term, it’s possible that states with smaller budgets will see far greater challenges in responding to disasters without the access to federal dollars that they’ve had in the past,” said Drew Myers, policy representative, State and Local Issues, Advocacy Group, National Association of REALTORS®.

IT'S NOT EASY GOING GREEN

MUNICIPALITIES MUST GET CREATIVE TO FUND RESILIENCY IN A                TIME OF BOTH GREATER NEED AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING

“Following the tragic Camp Mystic floods in Texas, the Texas legislature passed bills that allocate funding to early warning systems and support emergency training and first-responder communication improvements,” 

said Drew Myers, policy representative, State and Local Issues, Advocacy Group, National Association of REALTORS®, noting the legislation also addresses emergency manager licensing and equipment upkeep.