Citation

Black T. Am. City Cty. 1998; 113(10): 8 p..

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Penton Media)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

The price tag for fixing America's roads, bridges, schools, and water pipes keeps growing, while the urgency to do so intensifies. Approximately 59% of U.S. roadways are in poor, mediocre, or fair condition. Some bridges have been in full use despite the fact that they have needed repairs for years. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration says about 31% of the nation's 582,862 bridges are either deficient or functionally obsolete. Many of those bridges are owned by counties. Infrastructure maintenance, while sometimes the responsibility of state transportation or highway departments, often falls on cities and counties. Even if it does not, local entities can still feel the effects. Numerous examples of casualties or widespread damage illustrate the point. Additionally, privately owned infrastructure can fail, too. Cities and counties that fail to repair unsafe bridges or roads, or allow infrastructure to become unsafe through neglect, may open themselves up to lawsuits. Safeguarding the public and reducing exposure to liability will require infrastructure investments as well as development of alternative methods of transportation. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) addresses those needs.