'Window of Opportunity' for Infrastructure

Neal Peirce takes a hopeful look at President-elect Barack Obama's willingness to invest in infrastructure.

1 minute read

December 8, 2008, 1:00 PM PST

By Nate Berg


"It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity, driven by a popular president-elect, to mount a massive national infrastructure rebuilding program."

"There's no doubt we need it: estimates of our deferred spending on roads, bridges, rail lines, transit, schools, water and sewer systems run into the trillions of dollars. Other nations are racing ahead of us on issues like high speed rail, critical in a post-carbon era. Our long-term global competitiveness is at stake."

"What a change! No administration of the last four decades has had the courage to challenge the country to step up to the plate, to support really serious infrastructure reinvestment for our future."

"But the next stimulus package–perhaps $700 billion, backed by President-elect Obama and a good bet to get swift congressional passage once he's sworn in, provides an ideal vehicle."

Monday, December 8, 2008 in Citiwire

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