Infrastructure

The Issue

The lack of infrastructure investment is a national problem and there is also a unique connection to commercial real estate. New and increased funding mechanisms are needed to keep up with the country’s changing infrastructure needs. Commercial real estate is dependent on the government's ability to fund infrastructure projects, which oftentimes dictates the success and viability of commercial real estate properties. Our members understand that buildings can only be as successful as the infrastructure that supports it. Most notable is the necessity of a solid and reliable infrastructure to facilitate the movement of people to the places they live and work.

BOMA's Position

BOMA supports increased federal, state and local infrastructure investment as a critical component of a thriving commercial real estate industry. Robust investment in our nation’s roads, bridges, rail, transit, and other infrastructure is vital to the economy, and connectivity strategies are crucial for the success of commercial real estate as well as businesses and other entities which occupy the same space. Further, infrastructure planning and development should be expedited through all levels of permitting processes in a way that takes into account environmental safeguards and final product longevity.

Specific Ask

Congress must significantly increase investment in our nation’s infrastructure and pursue new and updated funding mechanisms solely dedicated to infrastructure improvements that maintain safe, reliable and usable forms of transportation.

For more information please contact: John Bryant, Vice President of Advocacy, Codes and Standards, BOMA International, 202-326- 6323, jbryant@boma.org.

  • The federal gas tax, which is the primary funding mechanism for infrastructure improvements, has not been increased since 1993.
  • ASCE’s 2017 Infrastructure Report Card graded America’s infrastructure as a D+.
  • Americans annually spend more than 6.9 billion hours delayed in traffic, wasting 3.1 billion gallons of fuel.
  • Urban traffic congestion and traffic delays cost the country $160 billion per year in wasted time and fuel.
  • More than 25% of bridges in the United States need significant repairs or are handling more traffic than they were designed to carry.