1. Caution Ahead: Overdue Investments for New York's Aging Infrastructure
- Author
-
Center for an Urban Future and Forman, Adam
- Abstract
Following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, New York City's essential infrastructure needs were made a top policy priority for the first time in decades. The scale and severity of the storm prompted numerous studies to assess the damage and led policymakers to take steps to shore up the city's coastal infrastructure weaknesses. Although that work remains imperative, New York City faces a number of other infrastructure vulnerabilities that have little to do with storm preparedness or resiliency. If left unchecked, they could wreak as much havoc on the city's economy, competitiveness, and quality of life as the next big storm. While the Bloomberg administration increased capital spending significantly and made great strides on a number of important fronts, it put more emphasis on new construction than bringing older assets into a state of good repair. To remain a magnet for global businesses and talent, and to ensure the high quality of life that current residents have come to expect, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and other government officials will need to make investing in the city's aging infrastructure a major priority. Although it will not be easy in an era of diminished federal funds, this report outlines several achievable solutions for addressing New York's critical infrastructure needs. [Additional research for this report was provided by Felix Attard, Theodore Conrad, Richard Ellison, Emily Laskodi, Heather Schultz, Josefa Silva, Xin Wang and Nadia Zonis.]
- Published
- 2014