Policy Recommendations for Innovation in Infrastructure

Far too many American infrastructure dollars get wasted through cost overruns and delays caused by inefficient project-delivery systems, time-consuming reviews, and outdated work practices. When public jobs routinely run far in excess of their original estimates and incur years-long delays, the taxpayer and toll payer suffer. In contrast, the private sector has developed strategies to overcome the challenges inherent in large projects, such as clear lines of authority, accountability for delays in the form of contractual liability, and the adoption of innovative new technologies and materials.

The Milstein Innovation in Infrastructure Project at the Manhattan Institute brings together academics, policy experts, and government officials to assess how to make American infrastructure more resilient and efficient.

The papers in this series include:

• Growing Sunbelt Cities Are the Future of Urban Life. They Need a Resilient Power Infrastructure by Michael E. Wooten
• At a Crossroads: U.S. Transportation Faces a Challenging Route Ahead by Steven E. Polzin and Kirk T. Steudle
• We Don’t Need This Much Infrastructure Diminishing Returns & Increasing Political Demands on Infrastructure by Judge Glock

Photo: David Sailors / Corbis Documentary via Getty Images