Infrastructure Spending Post Mid-terms: More of Less

The new totally GOP-controlled Congress appears poised to continue the course for infrastructure policy set by the House during the last two sessions— in the politest terms that amounts to benign neglect. In fairness, most Democrats have been reluctant to raise the federal gas tax too or find other funding sources for the nation’s rapidly deteriorating roads, bridges and tunnels, not to mention rusting water lines and overtaxed sewage treatment systems as well as crumbling dams. Forget about major infusions to provide for mass transit to relieve congested roads and for airports, which still operate using 1940s era radar technologies. Politicians of all stripes seem to really believe their palaver about how the U.S. is exceptional and the greatest country on earth… Well ladies and gentlemen not when it comes to infrastructure.

According to Ken Orski, who follows transportation policy in Innovation News Briefs, “A six-year (federal) surface transportation measure would require roughly $330 billion to maintain current (FY 2014) spending levels. But (Highway) Trust Fund revenue and interest (from the gas tax) over the same period are projected by the Congressional Budget Office to bring in only $230 billion—leaving a truly staggering funding gap of $100 billion.”