EPA Adopting ‘Fix-it-First’ Infrastructure Policy — For Water
Environmental groups have long called for a national "fix-it-first" standard to apply to new transportation projects, requiring states to focus on repair of existing infrastructure before constructing new lane miles. The approach has caught on in several state capitals, but not in Washington -- except when it comes to water infrastructure.
A sign advertising "spring water" coffee in Boston, where a state of emergency was declared last weekend following a water main burst. (Photo: AP/Globe)As the Washington Post reports today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quietly released a new policy last month that tells state officials to use their $3 billion-plus in annual federal water grants to shore up creaky pipes before serving new housing developments on the outer edges of urban areas.
From the Post's piece:
The new guidance arguably arrives five years too late -- after ahome building boom that swallowed up vast swaths of land. But buildingwill eventually resume, and EPA officials say the leverage of thefederal funding ... could coax states toward a more sustainable form ofdevelopment. With so many cities contending with aging water pipes andsewer lines, officials say, it makes most sense to address those needsfirst.
The EPA's announcement was met with criticism from the home building industry and state water supervisors who do not believe their mandate should include preventing unsustainable growth.
But amid multiple ominous signs about the health of the nation's water systems -- a burst pipe that left millions of Bostonians without usable faucet water, and a long-term deficit of about $500 billion in state water funds -- a show of effectiveness for "fix-it-first" rules could strengthen the case for applying them to transportation projects in the future.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
The Real Reason Assaults Against Transit Workers Are On The Rise
Hint: it's not just because service has been slashed.
Thursday’s Headlines’ Future Looks Bright
Amtrak Joe's administration is making big strides on rail, although it's lagging behind on EV chargers.
Car Noise Pollution is Worse in Redlined Neighborhoods — And Not Just for Humans
Transportation noise pollution can wreak havoc on wildlife populations, too — and that can have a devastating effect on their human neighbors.
Oakland Calif. Mayor Makes New Promise About Safety
Mayor Thao Tweets "It's time to reach a critical juncture where tragedies don’t catalyze improvements." But when and how will we know if the city has really reached that point and is serious about safety for all road users?
