Private investors are increasingly putting their money into infrastructure assets like bridges and windmills.
Target returns on these infrastructure investments are in the 12%-18% range, which may seem low for some investors, but they're winning more interest as government bond returns fall close to zero during the recession.
"Infrastructure has long been the domain of institutional players but has now emerged as a mainstream alternative for wealthy investors burnt in the credit crunch by a related asset class, real estate.
A vote of confidence in the sector came recently from no less an investor than Warren Buffett, who bought out rail group Burlington Northern for around $26-billion (U.S.)."
Read the full story: Rich, and bored with bonds? Buy into a bridge
Federal agencies give go-ahead to I-5 Columbia River bridge project
The next few months will clarify whether the massive bridge replacement project will secure the funding to move forward as planned.
Now you can cross from Iowa to South Dakota on a pedestrian bridge
The Big Sioux Pedestrian Bridge connects a park and a golf course on the other side of the Big Sioux River.
April must-reads: Top 10 articles from last month
The world's longest car-free bridge opens in Finland, Amtrak's new Mardi Gras line shatters ridership predictions, and Bay Area commuters could lose a third of Caltrain stations.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor
Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority