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Jakob Devlin

Mrs. DeBock

Block 3

21 February 2018

Essential Question: How bad is the status of the United States’ infrastructure, is it unsafe, and is

time for renewal?

Refined Thesis: The status of the United States’ infrastructure is in bad condition and is due for

renewal. In order to keep our infrastructure systems working efficiently, one must look at its

current condition, necessary restorations, and its economic impact.

Works Cited

America, Jul 25 2017 North. “U.S. Infrastructure Renewal: Who Should Pay the Bill?”

Knowledge@Wharton​,

knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/u-s-infrastructure-renewal-pay-bill/.

In this article the author discusses the financial part of infrastructure renewal in the United

States. The author states that the Trump Administration laid down a $1 trillion plan of

infrastructure renewal for the United States. However, controversy over what type of

infrastructure would receive top priority and how this plan would be financed.

Bush, Daniel. “What Would It Take to Fix America's Crumbling Infrastructure?” ​PBS​, Public

Broadcasting Service, 8 Jan. 2018,

www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/making-sense/what-would-it-take-to-fix-americas-crum

bling-infrastructure.

In this article the author interviews three people. The first person is Rick Geddes, Director
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of the Cornell Program in Infrastructure Policy. The second person is Jill Eicher, Senior

advisor at the Bipartisan Policy Center. The third person is Ed Mortimer, Executive

director of Transportation Infrastructure for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The author

asks all three of these people two questions: “The potential infrastructure plan being

floated right now is in the $200 billion range. Is that enough funding to make a real

difference?” and “Are you optimistic that Congress will pass an infrastructure bill in an

election year, or do you think the issue will fall by the wayside?” They say that we will

need more private-sector funding to make a real difference and that they are optimistic that

Congress will pass an infrastructure bill in an election year.

“Fixing America's Roads & Bridges.” ​Committee for Economic Development of The

Conference Board​, www.ced.org/reports/fixing-americas-roads-bridges.

This article gives a general explanation of the entire problem with United States

infrastructure. The author explains how our infrastructure has gone downhill so fast and

how it has ran into so many problems. He explains that the government has made poor

choices in project selection for fixing infrastructure, and also has been inefficient in getting

these projects finished. He explains that the US has been slow with adopting new

technology to solve this infrastructure problem. The author states how vital it is to inform

the public of the problems with United States’ infrastructure.

“How to Really Fix America's Infrastructure Problem.” ​Time​, Time,

time.com/4718012/how-to-fix-americas-infrastructure-problem/.

In this article the author gives explanation on how he thinks the infrastructure problem in

the United States should be solved. He gives 4 steps that he believes would fix the
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problem. His first step is “Focus on the outcomes”. What he means by this is that

engineers should focus on whether infrastructure projects are really going to help and

improve America. The second step is “Establish a clear point of accountability with the

federal government”. The author means by this that there needs to be no conflicting

mandates or priorities from the government. The third step is “Empower state and local

experiments”. The author means by this is that we need to let local and state governments

to start their own projects and plans to renew infrastructure. The fourth step is “Attract

more private-sector funding”.

Preston, Benjamin. “America's Infrastructure Still Rates No Better than D , Engineering Experts

Say.” ​The Guardian​, Guardian News and Media, 9 Mar. 2017,

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/09/america-infrastructure-rating-problems-engin

eers-report.

This article explains the overall rating of the United States’ infrastructure. Benjamin

states that the United States’ is basically falling apart. The highest authority in reporting

the United States’ infrastructure status gave it an overall “D” letter grade. The “D” letter

grade stands for “poor, at risk”. The author goes on to tell the grades of the subcategories

of US infrastructure. He explains the particular problems with much of the United States

infrastructure. The author of this article wants elected politicians to follow through with

their promises with infrastructure renewal.

Thomas, Lauren, and John W. Schoen. “America's Infrastructure Is Close to Failing, Report

Says.” ​CNBC​, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2017,

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www.cnbc.com/2017/03/09/engineers-give-americas-infrastructure-a-near-failing-grade.ht

ml.

In this article the author shows the report card from the ASCE on the status of the United

States’ infrastructure. The United States received a grade of a D on this report card. The

author then explains the plan that Trump to solve this infrastructure problem. However,

this plan would require almost two times as much money as Trump was promising to fund.

This would only bring the report card grade up to a B. It is yet to be revealed how Trump

is going to acquire this money he pledged to fund.