This panel discussion, from the Center for Civic Innovation conference on 10/2/2008, addresses the increasing difficulty the U.S. has had in maintaining the nation’s existing infrastructure and building vital new projects.

Infrastructure—whether in the form of roads, bridges, tunnels, passenger rail, pipelines or power lines—is critical to sustained economic growth and quality of life. Can the U.S. close this infrastructure gap with the help of private capital?

Panelists include William G. Reinhardt, Editor/Publisher, Public Works Financing; John H. Foote, Senior Fellow, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government and John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and; E.S. Savas, presidential professor at Baruch College. This program was moderated by Howard Husock, Vice President for Policy Research at the Manhattan Institute, and was held by the Manhattan Institute.

The discussion runs 41 minutes.

More videos from the CCI Conference on 10/2/2008:

Opening Remarks:

Jose Gomez-Ibanez, Professor, Urban Planning and Public Policy, Harvard University, talks about the difficulties in effecting private financing for infrastructure. 46 minutes.

Keynote Address:

The possible roles of private sector finance and management with The Honorable Mary E. Peters, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation. 46 minutes.

See more on infrastructure on Forum site.