APA sets principles for federal infrastructure investments

Everybody’s talking about infrastructure. The Michigan Association of Planning has made it a focus of their policy planning for the past two years. Governor Rick Snyder’s 21^st Century Infrastructure Commission said the state needs to spend $4 billion a year more than it currently does just to reach the national average of infrastructure spending.The American Planning Association has reacted to President Trump’s desire to improve the country’s infrastructure by establishing nine principles to guide the efforts of Congress and the administration. A new federal infrastructure program should:

• Serve multiple modes and types of infrastructure
• Be driven by local visions and strong regional planning
• Address long-term funding sustainability
• Harness private sector investment and creativity to advance and protect the public interest
• Consider key factors of location and leverage
• Promote access
• Advance opportunity for all
• Embrace and support innovation
• Make communities safer and more resilient