01/19/2008 GAAS:026:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Joins Gov. Rendell and Mayor Bloomberg to Reinvigorate Federal Investment in Nation’s Infrastructure
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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to form a new coalition, “Building America's Future,” which will rally support for a renewed federal commitment to funding America’s infrastructure needs with state partners. “Building America's Future” is a not-for-profit organization that will be made up of elected and executive officials serving at the state and local levels of government. In the short term, the coalition will work with presidential candidates and the platform committees of the national political parties to ensure that the next president understands the enormity of the infrastructure crisis and is committed to increasing federal funding. In the long term, the coalition will serve as a repository of best practices on infrastructure funding issues and become a think tank focusing on emerging infrastructure issues.
“America needs $1.6 trillion worth of infrastructure over the next five years yet federal investment has been cut in half as a percent of gross domestic product since 1987. This is disastrous because without adequate infrastructure to quickly and safely move goods and people our economy and our traffic will stop dead in its tracks. I could not be happier to join Governor Rendell and Mayor Bloomberg to shine an even brighter spotlight on this critical issue,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“In the past 20 years, state and local governments have been forced to pay more and more of the cost for infrastructure repairs and expansion,” said Governor Rendell. “Three-quarters of our nation’s infrastructure spending is by state and local governments. In the past five years Pennsylvania has increased state funding for bridge repairs by 300 percent, yet the number of structurally deficient bridges has increased. Our country can’t do it without federal leadership. America’s infrastructure crisis is far broader than bridges and roads. The infrastructure crisis includes the basic necessities communities and businesses need to survive: schools, waterlines, wastewater treatment systems, dams, flood mitigation, hospitals, energy, aviation, rail lines and ports. This is an issue that crosses party lines and we need significant federal investments now to ensure the safety of our citizens and economic prosperity of our nation.”
“We can all look at recent headlines about levees in New Orleans, air traffic congestion in the Northeast or the bridge collapse in Minnesota to realize that our nation’s infrastructure is in need of serious attention,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “But those examples only scratch the surface of the problem. The funding needs to maintain our existing infrastructure, and to improve and expand infrastructure as our nation continues to grow, just hasn’t been the priority it needs to be. Today, I’m joining with Governor Rendell and Governor Schwarzenegger to create a coalition that will focus attention on our shortfalls in a bi-partisan way and will work to get the Federal government to make this a top priority.”
Sound infrastructure is critical to American competiveness, quality of life, environmental sustainability and public safety. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave U.S. infrastructure a “D” letter grade and estimates that over the next 5 years the U.S. will need $1.6 trillion of infrastructure.
“We have fallen behind when it comes to infrastructure and I have been doing everything in my power to get us caught up because infrastructure not only prepares us for the future and helps preserve our rich quality of life but also boosts our economy and provides well-paying jobs, which everyone can really use right now,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. California’s economic growth and environmental leadership are still closely tied to improving how infrastructure is built, operated and maintained. The Department of Finance estimates that California needs $500 billion worth of infrastructure over the next two decades. Governor Schwarzenegger is committed to further boosting economic growth, preserving our environment, enhancing services for citizens and getting taxpayers the most for their money by strengthening how California plans, finances and delivers infrastructure projects. In his State of the State address Governor Schwarzenegger proposed a set of new policies to leverage partnerships with the private sector, increase synergy between public agencies and educate thousands of new engineers to build the California of tomorrow. To achieve this, the Governor proposed:
- Establishing a Strategic Growth Council to coordinate Strategic Growth Plan (SGP) projects and spending. The five-member Council will help state agencies allocate SGP money in ways that best promote efficiency, sustainability and support the Governor’s economic and environmental goals.
- Expanding the types of projects, services and government entities that can enter into Performance Based Infrastructure (PBI) – also known as public-private partnerships – arrangements.
- Establishing “PBI California,” a center for excellence to help determine which state projects can benefit from PBI to represent the state in negotiations with PBI participants, ensure transparency and monitor performance. This will empower California to build, operate and maintain infrastructure better, faster and for less.
- Bringing approximately 20,000 new engineers into California's workforce over the next decade by expanding existing educational programs and building new partnerships between our schools, the military and the private sector.
- Legislation to increase the speed and efficiency of transportation projects built with transportation funds, including Proposition 1B funds, part of the historic infrastructure bond package approved by voters in 2006.
- Design-build legislation to ensure that projects using transportation funds, including Proposition 1B bond funding, can be delivered more quickly, saving taxpayer dollars.
- A $2 billion bond for the courts that will be leveraged with PBI financing to speed delivery, expand the number of projects and ensure California's courthouses are properly maintained.
