wpa and public infrastructure
TRANSCRIPT
PAR FAI T G AS A N A AN D W I L L I AM D AR I T Y J R .
A M E R I C A ’ S U R B A N I N F R A S T R U C T U R E : C O N F R O N T I N G H E R
C H A L L E N G E S , E M B R A C I N G H E R O P P O R T U N I T I E S
W A S H I N G T O N U N I V E R S I T Y I N S T . L O U I SD A N F O R T H C A M P U S
N O V E M B E R 1 9 - 2 0 , 2 0 0 9
Resuscitating the WPA in the
Current Crisis
Current Condition of Public Infrastructure
ASCE Grades (2009)
C+ C C- D+ D D- I
Aviation
Bridges
Dams
Drinking Water
Energy
Hazardous Waste
Inland Waterways
Levees
Public Parks
Rail
Roads
Schools
Solid Waste
Transit
Wastewater
Overall Grade
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Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Source: Federal Works Agency, Final Report on the WPA Program,1935-1943 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office,1946), 50-52, 131-133.
Source: Public Works Administration, America Builds: The Record of thePWA (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1939), tables 10, 11,13, 19, and 20, 279-82, 288-91.)
Infrastructure Types Amount Projects Potential JobsHighways $27.5 billion Road repair, highway network
links, additional lanes at
congested areas
Data analysts, civil engineers,
financial and technical
monitors, construction and
repair workers
Electric Smart-Grid $11 billion Modernizing the electric grid,
decreasing waste to energy
supply
Electric engineers, operators,
monitors, technicians
Rail Transportation $9.3 billion Support and enhancement of
Amtrak and freight tonnage
Passenger and freight train
employees, utility car
personnel, rail operators
Public Transportation $8.4 billion Installing and updating city mass
transit systems
Bus and subway drivers,
maintenance workers,
dispatchers, fiscal managers
Broadband $7.2 billion Increase access and usage in
unserved and underserved areas
Service employees, monitors,
parts manufacturing
Energy Efficiency & Conservation
Grants
$6.3 billion Support competitive bids for
energy projects
Project managers,
accountants, construction
firms
Local Drinking Water Improvement $6 billion Cleanup and improvement of
drinking water infrastructure
Water engineers, facility
operators, maintenance
workers
Weatherization Assistance Program
(WAP)
$5 billion Upgrading inefficient low-
income homes with in-home
energy improvements
Home auditors, financial
managers, technical WAP
agency personnel
Source: Blumenthal e. al, 2009
ARRA of 2009 Infrastructure Spending
Infrastructure Types Amount Projects Potential JobsFederal Building Repair $4.5 billion Increase green technology to buildings Carpenters, electricians, heating
system contractors, fuel industry
workers
Public Housing Capital Fund $4 billion Improve energy efficiency in aging units
including energy retrofitting and green
investments
Home auditors, building engineers,
weatherization contractors, housing
authority staff
Public Facilities Restoration $3.1 billion Refurbishment of older, inefficient
facilities in public and tribal lands
Construction workers and contractors,
technical monitors, facility personnel
Fossil Energy Research and Development $3.4 billion Scientific analysis for better, cleaner fossil
fuel technology
Data analysts, research firms, colleges,
geologists and energy chemists
Energy Efficiency Research $2.5 billion Scientific analysis and application of
energy efficiency research
Scientists, research firms, business
owners, service installation personnel,
contractors
Abandoned and Foreclosed Home
Redevelopment
$2 billion Refurbishment of abandoned and
foreclosed units in decayed city areas
Home auditors, real estate marketers,
construction workers and contractors
Water & Waste Disposal Facilities $1.38 billion Upgrading facilities with newer equipment
and technology
Water treatment operators, monitors,
maintenance crew
Air Transportation $1.3 billion Developing communications and
equipment for air traffic control
Air traffic control personnel, airport
and airline employees, logistics teams
EPA Cleanup Programs $1.2 billion Enhancement of programs such as
Superfund
Environmental engineers, ecologists,
surveyors, landscapers
(Source: Blumenthal e. al, 2009)