Philanthropy’s Role in Propping Up America’s Transportation System

In the wake of a new report that calls America’s low investment in building and maintaining its airports, roads, bridges, and other means of mass transit an “emerging crisis,” philanthropy should consider helping to sound the alarm, writes Carla E. Dearing on the PhilanthroMedia blog.

The report by the Urban Land Institute and Ernst & Young estimates that the United States will need $1.6-trillion in infrastructure investment over the next five years. But, despite incidents like this past summer’s fatal bridge collapse in Minnesota, writes Ms. Dearing, “We’re not paying attention, very much to our detriment.”

She encourages private grant makers and donors to let their voices be heard.

“With dollar figures in the trillions, philanthropy may not believe it has a role in this issue,” writes Ms. Dearing. “However, I know from my travels that in cities all across the country, philanthropy is playing the role of catalyst — funding the research, getting the word out, getting the conversation started.” She adds that “it’s hard to imagine an area where shared resources would bring more benefit.

Should philanthropy lend its voice to the public debate over transportation issues or is that a role exclusively for government and business? Share your thoughts by clicking on the “comments” link below.