3
Behind these everyday transactions are millions of miles of
roads, pipes, networks, and other assets. And in communities
where the infrastructure that supports these essential services
is inadequate, quality of life and economic viability suffer.
Despite consensus around the criticality of infrastructure,
historical investments and practices have resulted in much
of it falling into disrepair, nearing end of life, or no longer
meeting modern requirements.
Consider the most recent American Society of Civil Engineers
Report Card for America's Infrastructure, where 42 percent
of US bridges were found to be more than 50 years old, with
more than 46,000 rated structurally deficient. Add to this the
jarring statistic that, in the US, there is a water main break
every two minutes and an estimated six billion gallons of
treated water are lost each day.
Not only is it aging and failing, but infrastructure is also being
challenged and strained in new ways by climate change,
security threats, and increasingly severe natural disasters.
The result is a resounding call to action: We must make
infrastructure assets and the services they support resilient,
sustainable, and equitable.
The Big Idea
The ability to turn on a tap to get clean drinking
water, flick a switch to have brilliant light, or
work remotely in a connected environment has
become a common way of life for many.
E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y
