Comments on: Editorial: I-Way Quality Job 1?

By: Corey

Corey — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:01:00 +0000

Build better transit infrastructure, and you won’t have to worry about the Iway. I’m not convinced that we’re any worse with infrastructure spending here than most places. We just happen to have a lot less money to begin with.

By: Marc Doughty

Marc Doughty — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:13:04 +0000

I like how you can walk under the new 195 onramps that aren’t even done yet and there are rusty spots on the metal. You would think that after totally wasting the last highway we had and not taking care of it to the point that it started literally falling apart (yeah, look at how we propped up the 195 overpasses with scaffolds and girders), we would maybe, you know, send someone out to inspect, sand, and paint every few months.

I can’t possibly put into words how frustrated I am with this state’s handling of infrastructure spending. I’m scared that the stimulus package -will- pass.

We need to fix the problem here -before- we ‘feed the beast’. Something is VERY wrong with how we budget, plan, build, and maintain our infrastructure here in Rhode Island.

By: Design New Haven

Design New Haven — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:54:04 +0000

Even if public infrastructure funding were increased to the level proposed in the “stimulus” bill, there still wouldn’t be enough money to repair what we already have.

That makes the brand-new proposed highways out to the Utah deserts, which will be funded through the bill, even more the absurd.

The fact is we just have way too much road infrastructure, and way too many cars, for the size of our economy. As China and India continue to catch up every year, we’ll be falling farther and farther behind on our deferred maintenance policy.

In other words, new federal policies that reduce VMTs and promote alternative forms of transportation, rather than endless highway expansion, are drastically needed.