Pennsylvania Office of the Governor News
Governor Rendell Urges Federal Infrastructure Investment to Keep America Competitive
Promotes Coalition to Make Infrastructure Funding a National Priority
"In the past 20 years, state and local governments across the country have been picking up more of the tab to build, maintain and expand the facilities on which our society relies," Governor Rendell said at the Rebuilding and Renewing America: Toward a 21st Century Infrastructure Investment Plan conference.
"If we want to remain economically competitive and environmentally sustainable, we need effective national leadership to address unresolved infrastructure needs," he said.
"Without adequate federal infrastructure investment to quickly and safely move goods and people, our economy and traffic will stop dead in its tracks. And, we will have a much tougher job competing in the world markets against the likes of
To address the infrastructure needs in
"These investments will help keep our state competitive, but it barely scratches the surface of the needs in our state," Governor Rendell said.
Since taking office in 2003, Governor Rendell nearly tripled construction contracts for bridges — from
"But for every two bridges we fix, three more reach the point where they also need repairs since the average age of our 25,000 state-maintained bridges in
"The challenge we face came into stark terms earlier this year when within a matter of weeks, we had a bridge that carries nearly 23,000 vehicles a day in
"And, we were forced to close a section of the busiest interstate in
Repairs to that column are still being completed, but that entire section of the interstate viaduct in
"These are just two incidents, but they could be harbingers of more to come. In
In another step to address the need for infrastructure funding, Governor Rendell helped form the Building America's Future coalition — a non-partisan coalition he co-chairs with
The coalition is comprised of state- and locally elected officials from across the nation focused on increasing federal funding to rebuild America's aging infrastructure. Governor Rendell invited conference participants to join the coalition online at: www.InvestInInfrastructure.org.
One of the primary jobs of the coalition is to create an environment where infrastructure funding is treated as the national priority it should be.
Governor Rendell noted that the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates the national infrastructure needs at more than
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.
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SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
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