WizardofOz
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Should the US government start spending more on repairing infrastructure? Should they invest in high-speed rail projects?
Should that be increased as a percentage of GDP or total dollar amount?
If we do seek to implement high-speed rail, what is the best way forward? Is it worthwhile to begin with?
How the US rates on various infrastructure:
Aviation: D
Bridges: C+
Dams: D
Drinking Water: D
Energy: D+
Hazardous Waste: D+
Inland Waterways: D
Levees: D
Parks and Recreation: D+
Ports: C+
Rail: B
Roads: D
Schools: D+
Solid Waste: C+
Transit: D-
Wastewater: D+
Thoughts?
Almost all spending on transportation, drinking water, and wastewater infrastructure is done by the public sector. Federal, state, and local governments spent $416 billion on it in 2014. That amount equaled about 2.4 percent of gross domestic product, a percentage that has been fairly stable for roughly 30 years |
Should that be increased as a percentage of GDP or total dollar amount?
America's infrastructure is desperately in need of investment, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. The ASCE estimates the US needs to spend some $4.5 trillion by 2025 to fix the country's roads, bridges, dams, and other infrastructure. |
If we do seek to implement high-speed rail, what is the best way forward? Is it worthwhile to begin with?
In Asia and Europe, super-fast locomotives are comparable to air travel in price and door-to-door speed. Across Asia and Europe, high-speed rail is providing a competitive alternative to air travel on the same routes, in terms of price and the all-important barometer of time. Put that together with the environmental benefits that flow from not burning jet fuel, and staying on the ground begins to make more sense for travelers who would otherwise trudge to the airport. here |
How the US rates on various infrastructure:
Aviation: D
Bridges: C+
Dams: D
Drinking Water: D
Energy: D+
Hazardous Waste: D+
Inland Waterways: D
Levees: D
Parks and Recreation: D+
Ports: C+
Rail: B
Roads: D
Schools: D+
Solid Waste: C+
Transit: D-
Wastewater: D+
Thoughts?