Infrastructure consultancy identifies 550 top priority US projects

Washington-based infrastructure consulting and research firm CG/LA Infrastructure has unveiled its Blueprint 2025 Project Stimulus Map. The firm calls it an “interactive digital platform that identifies more than 550 infrastructure projects with the potential to revive the United States economy through strategic investments.”

The projects identified pertain to several infrastructure sectors (including energy, transportation, water and information technology) and “have an overall investment value of approximately $1 trillion, and stand to create approximately 2.4 million direct and indirect jobs,” states CG/LA.

Of the 550 projects identified, 375 of them are in the basic materials-heavy transportation sector, and another 110 are in the metals-intensive energy sector. Transportation projects include work on highways, rail lines, airports, bridges and ports. Energy projects include pipelines and electricity distribution spending.

“Public funds alone cannot achieve the innovative and robust levels of investment needed to jump-start our economy,” states Norman F. Anderson, chairman and CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure. “We believe it is critical to change the infrastructure investment model and get the private sector – especially pension funds – to make the investment required to transform our economy.”

CG/LA says its Blueprint 2025 map was developed and refined over the last two years to enable Blueprint 2025 members – which include public and private sector entities – to share and assess information needed to move such projects forward. Each project featured on the map has entered or nearly completed the permitting process and could break ground in 2020, adds the firm.

The consultancy says this is” especially important in light of the current market environment, as robust and targeted infrastructure investment has been shown to be one of the strongest drivers of economic recovery.”

“The bottom line is that we have to turn the corner, flip the switch and invest heavily in innovative infrastructure projects,” says Anderson. “Unemployment is close to historic highs, and we need to create high-paying jobs while providing a big jolt to the economy.”

A barrier to increased infrastructure spending has been the financial situation of states and municipalities, according to CG/LA. “Over the next three to five years, states and municipalities will operate at a 30 percent deficit as they work to recover from COVID-19-generated budget cuts, saving jobs and businesses.

However, the consultancy says there is a way forward. “To address the budget shortfalls and ensure critical infrastructure projects can move forward, CG/LA is devising strategies to help effectively mobilize private investment – whether directly, through a national infrastructure bank or through state infrastructure financing, among other options. These collaborations are intended to bring speed to the design, construction and operation of U.S. infrastructure.”