EXCLUSIVE: Trump team compiles infrastructure priority list

This is great news.

As someone who travels all around the country pretty frequently, I'm always seeing terrible roads, bridges overpasses. Particularly in the Northeast and down in New Orleans, the roads are garbage. I've seen better roads in Iraq.

President Donald Trump’s team has compiled a list of about 50 infrastructure projects nationwide, totaling at least $137.5 billion, as the new White House tries to determine its investment priorities, according to documents obtained by McClatchy’s Kansas City Star and The News Tribune.

They are soliciting 2- 3 projects from each state for consideration. But one overarching proposal caught my eye.

Among the projects listed is a $10 billion proposal to replace the nation’s radar-based air traffic control system with one called NextGen, based on satellites. The document projects the project could create 2,300 direct jobs.

And reminded me of a pet peeve of mine. Which is our power grids. In my Opinion, it needs a major overhaul and some outside the box thinking. Our system of powerlines is pretty much unchanged for the last hundred years. There has to be a better way.

The letter said the vetting would be done by a bipartisan infrastructure commission overseeing investments. “The initial spend on these projects for 2017 is expected to be $150 billion, and the transition team hopes that this type of project will be continued over the next 2 years,” according to the letter.

Hopefully this gets followed through on. Our country desperately needs it. Also in the link is a large State by State list of projects under consideration.

Source

a reply to: watchitburn

EMP hardened power grid should be the FIRST and only priority until it is completed.

a reply to: watchitburn

This actually represents a reduction in Trumps proposed spending. During the campaign he wanted $20 trillion in new spending, of which about $400 billion/year over 10 years would be on infrastructure.

Anyways, 50 projects nationwide is 1 project per state. The problem is, big flashy projects aren't what we need. Most infrastructure needs in the US involve lots of small additions. Adding lanes to roads is a big one, but another big one is fixing basically every bridge and dam in the US because they're all on the brink of failure.

Like I said, lots of small projects.

The radar system sounds like a proposal, what's the advantage to it? Your article lists that it would create 2300 jobs, but what happens to the old ATC jobs that go away? How many jobs are we actually netting? Could those just be temporary jobs in building the system rather than actual permanent jobs? For that matter, is a system which requires more manpower for the same results actually an upgrade?

Maybe I'm just skeptical of satellites in general though. In the event of war they're far too vulnerable. A satellite based ATC system basically shuts down air travel in the US with just a few well placed missiles. That would make the threat of war much more costly.

I do agree with you about the power grid, but because most of the power grid falls to the states it's always going to be a patchwork system where we're trying to put 48 different systems together, rather than 1 overarching system. Unless we expand the federal government to take that away from the states (seems unlikely in the current political climate) we can't really get away from that.

a reply to: infolurker

That's only possible for the military. Consumer level products aren't EMP proof, and are never going to be. When all the consumer products are fried it doesn't really matter if the power is still on or not.

a reply to: infolurker
An EMP hardened power grid, is that even on the menu?

a reply to: spiritualarchitect

If my memory serves me correct England has a different infrastructure that is resilient or semi resilient.

For those that comment before clicking, this is a "first glimpse" at a priority list compiled by each state.

An $18 billion high-speed rail system, built by a Japanese company, could transform transportation in the Lone Star State.

What the hell ever.

That's just as bad as Reids bullet train to nowhere.

a reply to: neo96

Yeah, I don't see foreign owned companies getting approval for Federal funded or subsidized projects happening any time soon.

a reply to: watchitburn

Wow, Trump is on fire.

I would like to hear from liberals how this is a bad thing?

Putting America first and getting our priorities straight.

Why did it take so long to find someone to do the Presidency right?

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: watchitburn

Wow, Trump is on fire.

I would like to hear from liberals how this is a bad thing?

Putting America first and getting our priorities straight.

Why did it take so long to find someone to do the Presidency right?

They have been led to believe that it takes a lot of talk and a lot of time to get things done.
Liberals think everything should be talked about until as many people feel good about it as possible.

a reply to: Metallicus

So now you're fine with government spending and increased taxation to cover that spending?

It's great that he's looking into starting to fix some of that stuff, but it's not free. I'm not a fan of spending without having a way to pay for it.

It's a start, but I'd rather see money going to eroding bridges, water, power grids and expanding capacity of our antiquated interstate system.

originally posted by: Aazadan
a reply to: Metallicus

So now you're fine with government spending and increased taxation to cover that spending?

It's great that he's looking into starting to fix some of that stuff, but it's not free. I'm not a fan of spending without having a way to pay for it.

How the hell else do you upgrade infrastructure?

Do tell.

a reply to: Aazadan

I'd say spending money on infrastructure is a hell of a lot more productive and beneficial to the American people than hiring hundreds more IRS employees to figure out how Obamacare works.

This isn't the infrastructure upgrades I was expecting at all. I figured upgrading the power grid was a total no-brainer and would be one of the first things to tackle, but I guess not.

Old and decaying bridges should be first priority.

a reply to: watchitburn

About time - rebuild Americas infrastructure instead of bombing everyone elses.

Much better use of money

No mention of a WALL....

imagine that

originally posted by: Nyiah
This isn't the infrastructure upgrades I was expecting at all. I figured upgrading the power grid was a total no-brainer and would be one of the first things to tackle, but I guess not.

Please read the linked article.