Public policy is notorious for intersecting with various other policies, market forces, and public and private actions. It is one reason unintended consequences can be so prolific, and why ‘the path to hell is paved with good intentions’ rings so true. One such intersection involves rail roads, roadways, and the…
Windy days may be a welcome change from summer heat or a warning of the calm before the storm. Whatever its impact, it is almost always there in the background of our lives. Wind has been a great renewable energy resource for centuries and may only be getting better. Not…
Imagine the U.S. crisscrossed with rapid, efficient, and accessible high-speed passenger trains. That is the ambition of the nation’s youngest Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. Vision-casting in February, Buttigieg said he wants the United States to be “leading the world when it comes to access to high-speed rail.” This comment…
The federal government has spent vast resources to build and maintain the current administrative state, provide for defense, meet healthcare obligations, and more. With trillions allocated each year, spending often overtakes revenues creating massive deficits as much as a trillion dollars. But there is another trillion-dollar deficit that is draining…
The rail system has been used to transport freight since the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad became the first to commercially transport passengers and freight in 1827. Since then, rail has become a crucial part of transporting goods, growing in economic volume moved and longer trains. The rail industry’s evolution has…
Washington, D.C, June 16, 2021 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) released its newest policy brief, America’s Top Infrastructure Challenges. The brief details top areas of infrastructure that need the attention of industry participants, state officials, and the federal government. Aii identified five infrastructure components that are most…
Excavation damages to underground infrastructure – or more simply, digging projects that hit things like pipelines and internet cables – are on a five year upswing. Every year, more sensitive and critical infrastructure is being struck, damaged, and shuttered. Shovels and power tools breaking ground and hitting these unseen service…
Railroads have served the needs of people and commerce in the United States for nearly 200 years. Since 1827, when the first steam-powered locomotive debuted, to America’s original 13-mile track and beyond, rail has been on a continuous journey of improvement. Today, approximately 139,679 miles of track facilitate the movement…
Seemingly the only area of public policy left unmarred by partisan politics is infrastructure. Both sides of the aisle agree that infrastructure maintenance, resilience, and investment are essential. While partisan differences emerge when defining the scope of infrastructure or the price tag, there is clear bipartisan support for revitalizing American…
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 CONTACT: John Cassibry, jcassibry@aii.org Washington, D.C, May 25, 2021 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) released its newest policy brief, Building Back Better And Protecting What We’ve Built. The brief details the rising nationwide crisis of excavation damage…
The recent Colonial pipeline cyber attack and ensuing disruption implicates excavation damage prevention. As industry stakeholders continue to strengthen their damage prevention systems, greater use and reliance on effective technology will be critical. Damage Prevention is the overarching process of avoiding harm to pipelines and other underground infrastructure when digging…
The word infrastructure can mean different things to different people. To some, infrastructure refers to the roads, railways, and other transportation systems that connect us. To others, it is the schools, hospitals, and physical buildings that are occupied by organizations that serve society. Both are correct, given that the word…
Our 3.8 million square-mile nation uses its space for a lot of purposes. About 50 percent of U.S. land is used for agriculture. Roads run for over 4 million miles across the country. Forests occupy nearly 300,000 square miles. But this vast and dynamic country requires abundant energy to…
With a problem as large in scope as global climate change, the solution may need to be pretty big. But how about something the size of a bird, like a drone? Drones are compact but powerful tools. Already, we are seeing them complete tasks as diverse as aiding roof inspections,…
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: February 18, 2021 CONTACT: John Cassibry, jcassibry@aii.org Charleston, SC, Feb. 18, 2021 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii), today, joins the American Flood Coalition, in order to advance both organizations’ missions of promoting resilient infrastructure. Aii is a national research and educational…
