November 5, 2008 AIA expressed growing concerns over the precarious state of America’s infrastructure and calld for the next president to invest more in the nation’s transportation system.
The AIA is a partner in Transportation for America, a new coalition formed to advocate for national transportation policies that will lead to a modern infrastructure and healthy communities. Several of the groups’ proposals echo recommendations that the AIA made in its Moving Communities Forward study, released in January in conjunction with the University of Minnesota, which identified how well-designed transportation projects can improve communities’ economic property, sustainability, and safety.
The AIA also is partnering with the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) to promote smart investments in the nation’s infrastructure and communities. Last week, AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Christine W. McEntee participated with the CEOs of the APA and ASLA on a panel discussion on how the design professions can make infrastructure a top priority for the next president and Congress.
McEntee noted that the combination of population growth, increased energy usage, climate change, and a dilapidated infrastructure is creating a “perfect storm” that threatens the nation’s economic well-being and national security. But she also said that design professionals should see this as an opportunity to “show how their solutions and their expertise can help design an infrastructure that is sustainable, livable, and cost-effective.”
For more information, see the AIA Web site.
