A few months ago, I was in Baltimore for a summit conducted by the Regional Plan Association on the Northeast Megaregion maintaining its economic competitiveness while addressing climate change. Rep. Earl Blumenauer had one bit of narrative that stuck with me about our nation’s history of rising to the challenge of infrastructure with visionary plans — and the will to make them a reality.
This year marks the bicentennial of the Gallatin Plan (1808), crafted by Thomas Jefferson’s Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin, to develop the infrastructure needed by a fast-growing nation. This plan built on George Washington’s vision of connecting the interior settlements to the markets and ports of the East Coast with a network of roads and canals.
One hundred years later (1908), President Theodore Roosevelt invited every state and territorial governor to join members of his Cabinet and Congress, professional organizations, and government bureaus in a National Conference at the White House to discuss infrastructure needs for the 20th century. The resulting report incorporated the growing interest in conservation as well as the need for future investments in hydropower to generate electricity. More importantly, it laid the groundwork for many of the critical investments initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to jumpstart the nation’s recovery from the Great Depression.
So now in 2008, will we have a new grand vision for infrastructure? We’ve completed the interstate system proposed at the midpoint of the last century. But 2008 is a different time, and we face new challenges of congestion, aging bridges and roads, and the need for investments in transportation that can help us get where we need to go efficiently while also reducing emissions.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was a special guest at the Regional Plan Association’s annual assembly a few weeks ago, titled “Oil And Water: Adapting to Scarcity.” In her keynote address, she joined the likes of Rep. Earl Blumenauer or Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania as another “voice in the wilderness” calling for new, massive national investment in our infrastructure.
She recognizes that as our economy slows down, investing in new infrastructure will help us stay competitive globally while also providing new jobs across the country at home. A few excerpts:
“Today, again, in the tradition begun in the earliest days of our nation, I am pleased to join you in issuing a challenge to rebuild and renew America. In doing so, we face two opportunities: to invest in our nation’s infrastructure, and to reverse climate change. We must do both. We can and must do both at the same time. In Congress, it is our responsibility to protect the American people, grow our economy and create good paying jobs, strengthen America’s families, and preserve our planet and promote energy independence. All of these can be accomplished through rebuilding our infrastructure.”
…We took action to promote biofuels, and to increase fuel efficiency. Now we must address total ‘vehicle miles traveled’ which are growing at 2.5 times the rate of population growth. Our infrastructure choices will help determine whether people can choose alternatives to driving their cars.
…We took action to promote biofuels, and to increase fuel efficiency. Now we must address total ‘vehicle miles traveled’ which are growing at 2.5 times the rate of population growth. Our infrastructure choices will help determine whether people can choose alternatives to driving their cars.
…Right now, both the House and Senate are at work on legislation that has the greatest potential to address climate change yet: a cap-and-trade system, which will not only limit emissions, but also generate revenue through the sale of greenhouse gas permits. Some of these revenues could be used for public transit or other infrastructure that further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
At a time when bridges are collapsing, congestion is worsening, the economy is slowing, greenhouse gases are rising and some people want to repeal the very gas tax that pays for infrastructure, we need more leaders willing to think about setting a course for the next 100 years.
Nancy Pelosi keynote at RPA Annual Assembly. Full transcript available here. You can also find out more about Rep. Blumenauer’s call for a new National Plan.