The US infrastructure is in the news again, although not in a good way. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has issued its report card and the States gets a ''D+'' overall - basically a failing grade with some sugarcoating on it.
The ports sector gets a 'C', which is a pass rating, but just barely, though the inland waterways and levees category also pulled a 'D+'. The ASCE did celebrate Congresses efforts late last year in passing a bill that would increase funding to the inland sector if the political currents flowed in the right direction.
Some snippets from the 'Ports' section are worth noting: “While port authorities and their private sector partners have planned over $46bn in capital improvements from now until 2016, federal funding has declined…” This is nothing new but it serves as a call to action for the continued trend in public-private partnerships.
With the improving US economy, private investors have an opportunity to participate in the increasing flows of cargo, though some of the needed investment may be miles away from the quayside. On this note, the ASCE notes: “Significant federal infrastructure investment in addition to what US ports and their private partners are forecast to spend will be required to close the funding gap, provide adequate waterside and landside access to port terminals.”
The report also suggests that infrastructure development should be looked at holistically at the Federal level - not a bad idea, actually.
As any American with a pulse could see in 2013, the government is dysfunctional; in spite of victories with the Water Resources Act (which will patch up some locks and dams), port interests still struggle to gain the attention of legislators in Washington, DC.
One success story highlighted by ASCE shows the benefits of regional cooperation, i.e. not waiting for the Feds. The FAST Corridor, in the Seattle area, is showcased as an effort of cooperation by 26 entities- businesses and agencies (in fairness, some are from the Federal government). The result has been a series of infrastructure improvements that have streamlined the movement of freight between the ports and the highway network. Port interests at Baltimore also received high marks for creating a landside complement (cranes and such) to the 50 foot channel that’s been dredged.
This makes me very wistful… in my home port of New York the work on the Bayonne Bridge has finally begun, offering the potential to clear the airdraft bottleneck. Happily for New Yorkers who live with delays all the time, the expansion work in Panama is delayed, reducing time pressure on the Port Authority to adhere to a super tight schedule as they raise the roadway.
