The Invading Sea
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
No Result
View All Result

Here’s what the infrastructure bill means for Florida’s deteriorating roads and bridges

As the state’s population soars and the climate grows hotter, the infrastructure bill will help Floridians cope with more traffic congestion and higher infrastructure costs

by Linda Bauer Darr
November 7, 2021
in Influencers
0

By Linda Bauer Darr, American Council of Engineering Companies

 On Friday night, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and sent it to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

There is no question of the need; America has not been spending enough to keep up with regular wear and tear, much less the influx of external environmental and social challenges Floridians are facing.

So instead of the politics, let’s talk about what the policy will do to confront the challenges facing Florida.

Linda Bauer Darr

An underappreciated aspect of the need for infrastructure investment is population growth.

The Florida Chamber Foundation’s research shows “there will be 3 million more drivers on Florida’s roadways, and 4.5 million more residents will call Florida home by 2030. On top of that, 50 million more visitors will travel to Florida each year.”

The state already has 408 bridges and over 3,564 miles of highway in poor condition. We can’t expect our highways to weather the increased load.

The infrastructure bill will provide at least $13 billion in federal funds to improve Florida’s highways and another $245 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years.

The investment is urgently needed because every delay just runs up the cost for Floridians along with every American taxpayer. In 2019, Americans lost 99 hours throughout the year due to traffic congestion with an average cost of $1,377. Seven of the 50 worst commutes in the United States are right here in Florida.

That’s productive time wasted, and it causes a drain on our economy. But it isn’t bad just because it takes longer to get to work, childcare, or to the doctor – it’s also more expensive in the long run.

A Cornell University study found that for every $1 of maintenance on roads and bridges that we defer, it ends up costing taxpayers an additional $4 to $5 in future repairs. With numbers like those, it makes you wonder why Congress didn’t act sooner to improve our roadways.

An increase in extreme weather events should also give Floridians a strong appreciation of the urgency to equip buildings, roads, and bridges to stand up to a changing climate.

In the case of sea rise, a South Florida Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald data analysis found that 445 miles of roads in the state would likely be flooded by 2040. By 2060, that number skyrockets to almost 1,600 miles of roads – three times as many.

Of course, the pressing need for infrastructure improvement goes beyond Florida. Data shows that coast to coast, Americans are experiencing the effects of climate change right in their own backyards. An analysis by the Washington Post found that heading into summer, nearly 1 in 3 Americans lived in a county hit by a weather disaster in the previous three months.

We need roads made with more durable materials, designs, and planning and we need to start building them now. America’s engineers are ready to take on the challenge. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act hit some roadblocks, but we applaud the bipartisan group of lawmakers who voted to make this historic investment in infrastructure for Floridians and all Americans. Now let’s get to work.

Linda Bauer Darr is president and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies. Recently, the group held its annual Fall Conference in Marco Island.

“The Invading Sea” is the opinion arm of the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a collaborative of news organizations across the state focusing on the threats posed by the warming climate.

Tags: American Council of Engineering CompaniesCornell UniversityHouse of RepresentativesInfrastructure Investment and Jobs ActLinda Bauer DarrMiami HeraldSouth Florida Sun-SentinelThe Florida Chamber FoundationWashington Post
Previous Post

Why you should care that Florida manatees are starving to death

Next Post

Voters’ demands that government address the threats from the warming climate may finally force politicians to respond

Related Posts

Architecture student says builders need to change how they construct buildings as Florida faces growing threats from a warming climate
Influencers

Architecture student says builders need to change how they construct buildings as Florida faces growing threats from a warming climate

by Sophia Bachas-Daunert
December 14, 2022
Technology and precise data can help lenders and investors avoid mispricing assets threatened by extreme weather and a warming climate
In The News

Is Florida’s Chief Financial Officer calling to end insurance discounts for properties preparing for climate change?

by Ron Hurtibise
August 26, 2022
Chemicals taint Biscayne Bay oysters
In The News

Chemicals taint Biscayne Bay oysters

by Alex Harris
July 11, 2022
Next Post
A carbon tax to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is gaining support among citizens, business leaders and policy makers

Voters’ demands that government address the threats from the warming climate may finally force politicians to respond

Twitter Facebook

About the Project

The Invading Sea is a collaboration by news organizations across Florida to address the threat we face from sea-level rise. We want to raise awareness, amplify the voice of our region and create a call to action that can’t be ignored. Read More

Archives

Categories

Audio Editorials Faces of Sea Level Rise Influencers In The News Other The Business of Climate Change Video

Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required


© 2022 The Invading Sea

No Result
View All Result
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About

© 2022 The Invading Sea

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In