Governor calls for national commitment to infrastructure funding HARRISBURG, Pa., March 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today pointed to a national report card that gave Pennsylvania a cumulative grade of "D" on the condition of its roads, water systems, and other critical infrastructure as more evidence that the United States must increase its investment in infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers reported this week that nation's infrastructure needs now total $2.2 trillion over the next five years -- an increase of 38 percent from just five years ago. "At the state level, we have made unprecedented investments in infrastructure repair, but we can't keep up with the needs. Even with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding it's impossible to do anything but fix, repair and maintain our infrastructure and by the time we complete repairs on one project, two others need to be fixed. "Pennsylvania has nearly tripled funding for bridge repair since 2003, yet we still have the highest number of structurally deficient bridges in the nation. This year alone, we will invest nearly $3 billion -- by far the most highway and bridge work ever produced in a single year in Pennsylvania -- but we'll barely scratch the surface of what needs to be done.
