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 Wake-Up Call on Infrastructure
by Tom Campbell
September 21, 2006
North Carolina’s infrastructure is crumbling. To fix these systems we will need to spend more than 30 billion dollars in the next five to seven years. These are findings from the North Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Their report card on the state of infrastructure in North Carolina measured airports, bridges, dams, drinking water, rail, roads, schools, storm water and waste water. Only our rail system scored higher than a C. The only real news to those who follow public policy in our state is the depth of the disrepair and the staggering price tag that is increasing every day. Why, it is reasonable to question, is no one bringing these issue to the public attention and, even more importantly, why little is being done about it?
The NC Rural Economic Development Center attempted to raise the needs for improvements and expansions of water systems in the recent short session of the legislature, asking our lawmakers to put a billion dollar bond referendum to the voters this fall, so as to take a baby step toward resolving some of the problems. Our lawmakers flinched and refused to let the voters speak. Not in an election year. The all too obvious response is that replacing and building infrastructure just isn’t sexy and politicians don’t think it garners votes. Our leaders don’t think people will respond to a message of repairing and replacing our infrastructure. We think they are selling the public short.
We believe the citizens of our state can handle the truth, can absorb detailed factual information, and are insightful enough to know that the influx of new residents coming every day will put even more strain on those public facilities that improve the quality of our life. Citizens know that poorly maintained roads cost each motorist in unnecessary auto repairs. They know that if one-third of our bridges are unsafe or obsolete there are consequences; that without clean water and adequate sewerage treatment facilities we will be greatly inconvenienced and have health problems. They also know it is cheaper build public schools than to pay tuition in private schools.
The root problem in facing our infrastructure shortcomings is not our citizens - it lies in a lack of vision, courage, and focus from our leaders. We haven’t had a leader who was willing to raise these problems in the public consciousness and to propose solutions.
Some skeptics might attempt to charge the civil engineers with being self-serving in this report, accusing them of trying to drum up business. We think otherwise. They have performed a valued service to our state in what should be a wake-up call to start immediately in rebuilding and expanding our infrastructure. |
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