ABOUT US
In 2007, the San Diego Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers
conducted a government advocacy program called the "ASCE Agenda for
Change." The goal of the program was to improve the infrastructure
grades in the next ASCE
Report Card by providing specific action Items and funding
recommendations to elected officials and to have them act on these recommendations.
The three specific areas of focus were
• storm water
• surface transportation
• open space/parks.
Report card grades for these issues are low and funding is diffcult to obtain.
Products of this program included the following
1. Interviews with public works staff at various agencies throughout the
San Diego region
2. A presentation on important infrastructure policies and projects to staff
at the City of San Diego Mayor's Office
3. A governmental advocacy training workshop
4. Letters of support for infrastructure funding
5. Participation of our program members in several media "events," including
as a speaker in an NPR radio talk show episode that focused on infrastructure
following the bridge failure in Minnesota.
The concept for Friends of Infrastructure came from a discussion noting that there are other organizations such as Friends of Libraries, Friends of Parks, and Friends of Canyons, but infrastructure could use some friends. Through this group, civil engineers (and other professionals who join) are actively participating in improving infrastructure region-wide, and are generating recognition for engineers as being part of the solution to the deteriorating condition of our public infrastructure.
A nine-member Steering Committee organizes our work, which considers requests for involvement on a case-by-case basis. We will consider any project with strong infrastructure components that benefit the general public. If we decide to support a project or policy, a Call for Action is sent to members within the network to determine who can help and the level of assistance they can provide.
Our network directory is maintained in confidence by the ASCE San Diego Section. Click here for info
on Membership
and the list of Steering Committee members.
Public agency staff and officials - If you need support for your infrastructure
projects and policies, please contact us at info@friendsofinfrastructure.org