Building Infrastructure in Real Time: Avoiding Regulatory Paralysis

The physical infrastructure base of the US economy, once an advantage in global competition, has become a liability. Policymakers are now addressing funding, but we also need a more efficient regulatory process for our infrastructure investment—choosing the right projects, with the minimum delay, and executing them at the least possible cost. Streamlining regulatory procedures, promoting competition, and cutting red tape across federal, state, and local governments are key to increasing investment, decreasing cost, and maximizing efficiency.