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Author	Topic: US Roads, Airports Unready for Extreme Weather	Post a Reply Back to Topics

Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,006 Points:1,742,810 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 9:44:57 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's lifelines — its roads, airports, railways and transit systems — are getting hammered by extreme weather beyond what their builders imagined, leaving states and cities searching for ways to brace for more catastrophes like Superstorm Sandy. Even as they prepare for a new normal of intense rain, historic floods and record heat waves, some transportation planners find it too politically sensitive to say aloud the source of their weather worries: climate change. Political differences are on the minds of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, whose advice on the design and maintenance of roads and bridges is closely followed by states. The association recently changed the name of its Climate Change Steering Committee to the l Visit AP // San Francisco Chronical for full article

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's lifelines — its roads, airports, railways and transit systems — are getting hammered by extreme weather beyond what their builders imagined, leaving states and cities searching for ways to brace for more catastrophes like Superstorm Sandy.

Even as they prepare for a new normal of intense rain, historic floods and record heat waves, some transportation planners find it too politically sensitive to say aloud the source of their weather worries: climate change.

Political differences are on the minds of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, whose advice on the design and maintenance of roads and bridges is closely followed by states. The association recently changed the name of its Climate Change Steering Committee to the l
Visit AP // San Francisco Chronical for full article

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Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 27, 2012 8:57:54 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse by the way.... why do the gop want so many freebies and special benefits..... but never seem to want to pay for
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 27, 2012 8:45:09 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Still wanda.... are you still saying facts have a liberal bias???? (grin)
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 27, 2012 8:44:23 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Sorry Wanda... you still missed the point... and don't rely on soda doc for accuracy -- or facts.... he can't recognize either...
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,950 Points:753,185 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 7:48:39 PM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Great points Wanda.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 9:43:42 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse ""The infrastructure of the nation is aging and it's at risk because, quite frankly, we're all not investing enough to take care of these facilities," said Hammond, the chairwoman of the climate committee. "And now we're facing extreme weather threats that cause us to need emergency response capabilities beyond what we've had in the past." In the state of Washington, "we have seen more erratic weather patterns that we haven't had before, so we really can't imagine what kind of winter or summer we're going to have anymore," Hammond said. More frequent heavy rainfalls in the western half of the state have increased the volume and velocity of water in rivers and streams, undermining the foundations of bridges. Rising sea levels are eroding coastal roads. In the drier eastern half of the state, more frequent wildfires have forced road maintenance crews to change their methods in an effort to prevent sparks that might cause a blaze. "Each time you replace a bridge, states have to be thinking about not just what kind of traffic demand there is, but how do I make sure this is a bridge that will withstand the future given the erratic weather patterns and climate change we're seeing," Hammond said. "It's a new layer of analysis." Sounds like common sense Wanda..... or is that just a "liberal" concept anymore????
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 9:38:48 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Here we have professionals telling people and politicians what is needed to repair and maintain the infrastructure the country needs.... and yet it seems a bunch of people are not listening..... Seems like a bunch of people wanting to be nothing but parasites...
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 9:36:23 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse In California more than 50 years ago.... the early variants of the present-GOP mindset fought like the dickens against a proposed state water project championed by a democratic governor. Funny thing is.... Southern California could never have experienced and handle the massive growth of the last half-century without it.... (That means the GOP caliphate called Orange County would still be mostly orange groves)..... And all the farmers in the Central Valley would have had massive water problems because of a sinking water table under the semi-arid land they were cultivating.... That is just one example of how closed minds and no infrastructure could have disastrous effects on the states and the country as a whole...
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 9:23:29 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Hmmmm wanda.... that must mean that we have 100-year cycles every year now, right???? "Wild weather is taking a toll on transportation across the country. In Washington state, "we joked we were having 100-year storms every year," said Paula Hammond, head of the state's Department of Transportation...."
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 9:19:49 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse The way the GOP is now, the only way that America can survive and repair itself from all the damage they have done over the last 30 years is for the GOP to be nothing but a minority (in number) party for the next generation -- or until all the escaped inmates in the GOP leadership are purged back to the asylums from whence they came.... Sad thing is that the current democratic party is basically where the liberal and moderate republicans were years ago...... before the GOP began its stalinist-style purge of the party.... Decades ago, the old moderates and liberals of the republican party were for building America up and investing in the future..... Nowadays, that is blasphemy to the GOP. Now all they stand for profits uber alles.... [Edited by: Gnusman53 at 11/26/2012 9:29:29 AM EST]
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 9:12:15 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Actually, still wrong Buckeyee..... You were describing the GOP master plan for the last four years... the do nothings (or as I call them the Nero fiddlers.....playing away while the country 'burns') Actually, he has done a number of things -- IN SPITE of the Anti-America GOP..... As to transportation, there was partial funding of rail, bridge and road projects in the stimulus....(stressed regionally)..... As to the comrade-in-chief moniker... that would only apply if America's new Commie Party (the GOP) gets back in control..... So factually, Buckeyee old man... you are flunking recent history. Go through DeFoxing DeToxing and throw away your "ditto-head" certificates.... Fantasyland may be fun for a while..... but like a car with four flats... you never get anywhere.... (grin)
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,610 Points:899,755 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 7:54:47 AM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse Boy, gnusman. My point is that after 4 years, nothing has been done by the Comrade in Chief on this or any other problem, but you know that already.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 1:45:25 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Boy, buckeyee & pals...... one watt bulbs in 100-kilowatt world....(grin)....... after all..... who needs roads? bridges? (grin) [Edited by: Gnusman53 at 11/26/2012 1:48:35 AM EST]
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 1:37:36 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Sorry wanda wrong again...
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,095 Points:1,623,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Nov 26, 2012 12:31:58 AM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Time to get ready! Even our electric grid can no longer handle the now routine assault on the power distribution infrastructure. Even the NYC subway system may now require an automated pumping system similar to that which keeps New Orleans from being permanently submerged by the Mighty Mississippi and the GoM
andy1024 Champion Author Allentown Posts:1,702 Points:448,150 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:26:47 PM Ignore andy1024 Report Abuse An old article?
Wanda127 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,499 Points:915,580 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:01:57 PM Ignore Wanda127 Report Abuse This must be a Liberal news reporter. They really believe in global warming. The main thing is we are going through 100 yr. weather cycles. Plus the government keeps using the road tax money for other things rather than repairing the roads. So, when they need repair they scrabble to find the money. [Edited by: Wanda127 at 11/25/2012 11:03:20 PM EST]
md11capt Champion Author Denver Posts:3,558 Points:711,180 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 10:48:13 PM Ignore md11capt Report Abuse Agreed.
ObieDog Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,966 Points:852,195 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 10:45:32 PM Ignore ObieDog Report Abuse Hardly news.
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:6,021 Points:1,189,625 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 9:02:12 PM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse We know that North America is not ready for any disaster.
mike56MI Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,220 Points:308,340 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 7:47:15 PM Ignore mike56MI Report Abuse Is anyone ready?
CorvairHaven Champion Author Cleveland Posts:4,359 Points:1,454,915 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 7:25:00 PM Ignore CorvairHaven Report Abuse Usually too much salt used here.
Taxrefugee Champion Author Arizona Posts:1,402 Points:386,995 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 6:37:35 PM Ignore Taxrefugee Report Abuse Possible to plan for lots of anticipated problems but to plan for every extreme situation becomes cost prohibitive.
mpg611 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,339 Points:570,520 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 6:08:51 PM Ignore mpg611 Report Abuse Doesnt surprise me. The Democrats have been too busy spreading political correctness and looking to raise the legal age to 28, and the Republicans too busy shoving their certain religious belief down everyone's throats here and overseas.
JDchefF Champion Author Lancaster Posts:1,050 Points:229,245 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 5:06:57 PM Ignore JDchefF Report Abuse Greed, blame and stupidity in government are the problems. No one wants to look forward to solve problems, just look back and point fingers and blame.
YumaFellow Champion Author Arizona Posts:1,290 Points:622,595 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 3:47:19 PM Ignore YumaFellow Report Abuse Global warming does not exist--just ask the Republicans. So why worry? They will block any real efforts to deal with the problem.
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,610 Points:899,755 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 3:33:19 PM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse Didn't the Great One have 4 long years to start fixing the problem ? Guess all that free travel on Air Force One and the 600 plus golf outings cut into his official business. He should just blame someone else for his inaction.
BUSMAN1105 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,160 Points:1,170,980 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 3:01:09 PM Ignore BUSMAN1105 Report Abuse yeah, If you live in Atlanta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mitt4prez Champion Author Tacoma Posts:1,747 Points:1,246,200 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 2:34:14 PM Ignore mitt4prez Report Abuse The ussal hooey: Spend moremoremore money on govt, sticking the taxpayers in the rolling mill yet again. Somehow all this high spending does not translate into performance. But it's all Globaloney Warming's fault. So raise taxes and spendspendspend. Repeat.
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:610,325 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 2:13:39 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse Where do they find these nut jobs to appoint as "planners", "advisers", and "administrators"? Climate change is NOT the cause of our crumbling roads and infrastructure--progressive politicians are! Our infrastructure is crumbling around us because of years of incompetence and malfeasance--outright theft--on the part of politicians and the cronies they appoint to administer their corrupt policies.
rasprout Champion Author Tacoma Posts:3,367 Points:1,221,660 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 2:12:22 PM Ignore rasprout Report Abuse Interesting that for decades the roads have been adequate but now they aren't, hmmm... Is technology just not fast enough for some people to realize it is what it is and you have to deal with some problems without technology...
BluWahoo Champion Author Pensacola Posts:3,113 Points:379,690 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 2:00:06 PM Ignore BluWahoo Report Abuse You know that winter in most states is OCTOBER-MARCH. Take charge STATE Governments...nobody else is worrying about it. Winter will be over before you get any answers for your problems. The White House don't care if you have roads, power, gas or water...only if you don't work and claim several dependants because you act like you don't know what's causing your dependant problem to increase.
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:9,521 Points:1,831,615 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 1:28:51 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Our roads, Bridges and most other thing will keep going down, As storms will get worst. And our Government got there heads stuck in the sand. It will come a day when all we have to depend on is yourself.
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,264 Points:984,040 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 1:24:27 PM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Get yourself prepared. If storms hit can you survive more than two days? This weekend we are installing a 12 volt, low voltage backup system. Fans for two vented propane heaters, lights in certain stategic areas of the house and a 12 volt sump pump back-up. Four batteries and a small solar charger will power everything for a week or more.
roadrunnerMO Champion Author Kansas Posts:8,411 Points:1,700,440 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 12:56:23 PM Ignore roadrunnerMO Report Abuse Blame Bush for obama administrations ineptitude. Cannot blame Romney as he never was in office so we do not know what he would have done... but it certainly would have been more than fly all over the world creating lots of jet pollution supporting his islamic brothers.
Yooperheart Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,425 Points:528,000 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 12:38:18 PM Ignore Yooperheart Report Abuse Send dem storms to Meeechgain. We be ready!
rjojo40 Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:7,376 Points:1,075,640 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 12:27:34 PM Ignore rjojo40 Report Abuse the problem is that the NTSB got lazy and rested on there laurels. when they should have been in R & D with new types of road covers, tire company's did there part, but the tire is only as good as the road it's driving on.
rodwade1 All-Star Author Maine Posts:556 Points:623,960 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 12:23:27 PM Ignore rodwade1 Report Abuse At least the Obama Administration recognizes the problem. Mitt Romney and his conservatives never did
werich44 Champion Author California Posts:1,862 Points:469,180 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 12:20:51 PM Ignore werich44 Report Abuse With our politicians concerned about nothing but their bank accounts what more could you expect.
ss70 Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,669 Points:1,871,075 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 12:03:54 PM Ignore ss70 Report Abuse what is ready in the country other than greed
briinnc Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,705 Points:834,820 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:57:43 AM Ignore briinnc Report Abuse And the pols have wasted all the money we paid in that should have been used to upgrade.
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,932 Points:967,950 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:56:32 AM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse Road construction hasn't stop for the past 10+ years here in my fair state. They look ready to me.
johton Champion Author Seattle Posts:1,220 Points:313,140 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:49:19 AM Ignore johton Report Abuse Of course they're not. Instead of reinvesting in roads and infrastructure, we invested in social welfare programs.
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,435 Points:517,325 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:41:50 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Fasten your seat belts, this ride is going to get rougher
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,493 Points:734,300 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:40:07 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Infastructure.
gfox4810 Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:1,191 Points:396,725 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:35:46 AM Ignore gfox4810 Report Abuse ok
97beater Sophomore Author Madison Posts:249 Points:290,605 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:31:46 AM Ignore 97beater Report Abuse when will people realize climate change is real, what is it going to take? maybe we don't need new roads, maybe we should maintain the ones we have. put more money toward public transit.
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,610 Points:899,755 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:27:13 AM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse Fema is as bad now as when Katrina hit, you just don't hear about it since most of the networks are tied in with Obama so much. Look for a "stimulus " plan for New Jersey & New York coming to your wallet soon.
brbts Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,643 Points:776,365 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:11:55 AM Ignore brbts Report Abuse That's what the gas tax is for. If they'd use it for what it was meant for, there would be pleanty to pay for maintaining them.
jcotaxi Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,760 Points:360,080 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:07:37 AM Ignore jcotaxi Report Abuse Deterioration will always be in play. Progress is finding a way around the deterioration.
bcline909 Veteran Author Virginia Posts:401 Points:80,170 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Nov 25, 2012 11:06:49 AM Ignore bcline909 Report Abuse wonder what's causing the extreme weather?