Infrastructure traditionally has been defined as large capital works projects such as roads, dams and sewers. Over the past few years the definition has been expanded to include other public assets. Infrastructure is now often broken into two areas1:
- Physical Assets, or “brick and mortar infrastructure,” are constructed capital projects and structures such as public buildings, school facilities, water supply systems, housing, roads and transportation systems. The definition is growing to include other systems that affect our economy and quality of life like medical/healthcare facilities and telecommunications/information infrastructure.
- Natural Assets, or “resource infrastructure,” provide the environmental resources an economy needs to operate such as energy and water. Natural Assets also include environmental elements that greatly impact local quality of life, including oceans, beaches, forests, lakes, rivers, wetlands, open space, and ecosystems.
- In addition to these forms of infrastructure, there is also a “human infrastructure,” that includes our workforce that requires investment in education and training for the overall California economy.
There are four major types of Infrastructure used by California’s 37 million residents:
- Transportation – bridges, transit, airports, seaports, rail
- Education Facilities – buildings for K-12 schools, colleges and universities
- Water & Natural Resources – water, air quality, electricity, natural gas, parks and beaches
- Public Facilities – fire and police stations, libraries, public hospitals, government buildings, courts, prisons, public housing
Many infrastructure investments are usually one-time capital expenses, requiring voter approval for financing government-owned infrastructures. Additionally, state, county and city budgets provide funds to cover infrastructure operating and maintenance expenses like staff salaries and utility costs for facilities. Citizens of California play a major role in deciding the allocation of resources for different types of infrastructure.
1 CA Commission on Building for the 21st Century