The shortfall in simple maintenance of present basic infrastructure for the United States, about $280 billion/year, costs the country $515 billion/year, according to the latest report from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE,) released Jan. 12, titled, “Failure to Act: Economic Impacts of Status Quo Investment Across Infrastructure Systems.” They estimate a $13 trillion total required over the 2020-2039 period and compare it to present funding trends, which would reach $7.3 trillion. Their computer model estimated the damage done primarily from slower transportation, less reliable electricity, and less reliable water.
The last four-year report from the ASCE (“The Report Card for America’s Infrastructure”) graded the U.S. at a D+. The next report card is due this year. However, over the last year, the ASCE conducted a “Failure to Act” series on five separate areas: Ports and Inland Waterways; Airports; Electricity; Water and Wastewater; Surface Transportation. This sixth “Failure to Act” summary report, out this month, examines the extra damage done from the effects of degradation in one area upon the overall whole. There may be an investment at a port, but if land transportation continues to degenerate (roads, bridges, and rail), logjams occur, shipping costs go up, and the improvement in one area is vitiated. Another area cited, is the reliability of electricity and the extra cost imposed upon manufacturing by that.
By way of disclaimer: The numbers that went into their computer model were taken from 2019; hence, pre-COVID-19. The ASCE’s modeling focuses upon the upkeep of present basic infrastructure, and does not attempt to cover the subject of bringing online any qualitatively new technologies.
