The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and askHRgreen.org are participating in the national advocacy and educational event, Infrastructure Week, which will take place from May 16th-23rd, 2016. Across the country, businesses, labor organizations, elected officials and more will join together to tell citizens and policymakers alike how #InfrastructureMatters to their businesses and jobs, communities, health and safety, and daily lives – and the need for increased and continued investment from all levels of government and the private sector.

askHRgreen.org will be hosting a regional blog series focused on water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure issues in Hampton Roads.  Be sure to sign up now to learn the latest issues and important upgrades that are taking place across the region by visiting our website or following on Facebook or Twitter.

Strong, resilient infrastructure is critical to our country’s economic growth and vitality. Yet, we are still falling behind due to crumbling and outdated roads, bridges, rails, airports and seaports, water, wastewater and stormwater pipes, and the power grid. A 2016 report found 59,000 structurally deficient bridges across America. Media stories of tainted water, natural gas leaks, and other infrastructure crises have become commonplace. The failure to invest in infrastructure drags on the whole economy, costing America $2 in GDP for every $1 we fail to invest. While Congress has begun to address the state of America’s infrastructure, the work is nowhere near complete, and it has increasingly been left to states, cities, counties, and towns across the nation to bear the burden of failing – and increasingly dangerous – infrastructure, and to rebuild and invest in new projects.  

“We are thrilled that HRPDC is joining Infrastructure Week. The dire state of America’s infrastructure is one of the most pressing issues facing us as a nation, and the benefits of a healthy infrastructure system are far-reaching and long-lasting,” said Zach Schafer, director of Infrastructure Week. “During Infrastructure Week, we are bringing together minds from the public and private sector to encourage lawmakers to continue investing in infrastructure and transportation at the federal, state and local level.”

More information about Infrastructure Week can be found here: http://infrastructureweek.org/