Infrastructure Funding Inaction Raises ‘Possibility of Catastrophic Failure’ Says Siemens Executive
Failing to fund upkeep for infrastructure systems increases the likelihood of epic disruptions to the flow of goods and people, a senior official with Siemens Rail said in a recent interview with Transport Topics.
“The cost of doing nothing makes the cost of fixing it more and more every year. Again, we raise the possibility of catastrophic failure, whether it be a bridge or a tunnel, or rail that causes injury,” Steve Morrison, director of business development at Siemens Rail Systems, told Transport Topics.
“It’s unacceptable to continue to allow that risk to occur,” he added.
During Infrastructure Week, on May 16, Siemens will host “The Future of Smart Cities,” with Bloomberg Government. Mayors Muriel Bowser of Washington, Michael Hancock of Denver, and Jennifer Roberts of Charlotte, N.C., are scheduled to participate.
During Infrastructure Week, from May 15-19, freight and commercial stakeholders will host panels and receptions, mostly around Capitol Hill, as a way to draw attention to funding needs for water projects, broadband, roadways, bridges, tunnels, pipelines and ports.
“This is a re-examination of what should America’s infrastructure be, what types of infrastructure should we be investing in, how should it be funded, how could we build an infrastructure system that reflects 21st-century needs, 21st-century challenges and then how to go about building that,” Zach Schafer, executive director of Infrastructure Week, told Transport Topics earlier this year.
