WASHINGTON — A new report out from the Council of Governments finds that infrastructure in the region is woefully underfunded, and that’s hurting the economic competitiveness of the region.
The report finds that the funding gap for transportation, the difference between what is funded and what local leaders would like to have funded, is about $24.5 billion. Water and sewer infrastructure is also underfunded, with a gap of $20 billion.
“In general, we are not sufficiently funding our infrastructure. There are some parts that are better funded than others. But we’ll also have growth in this region: 1.6 million people by 2040 and 1.3 million jobs. So it’s not just maintaining what we have; it’s adding to it and accommodating all the growth. It’s a double challenge,” says Stuart A. Freudberg, deputy executive director at the Council of Governments.
Transportation is an area where we see the underfunding every single day. “You look at what drives economic growth in major metropolitan regions, it’s two things: It’s good schools and it’s a good transportation system,” says Robert Griffiths, transportation planner at the Council of Governments.
“We’ve had a very, very hard winter. And as you just drive around the region, this is starting to get people’s attention. Why aren’t the roads being repaved and resurfaced, and what is the economic damage this is causing our vehicles?” he adds
The problem is clear, but the solution is not as clear. Both believe the federal government needs to step up and deliver more money on infrastructure, but funding these gaps also likely means more money, higher budgets and more taxes and fees.
