Innovation and Infrastructure

by Maria S. Salinas

With historic federal investments in the nation’s infrastructure, California and regions like Los Angeles stand to benefit from the billions to improve roadways and bridges, freight systems, public transportation, and to address climate change. With such bold investment, we must work collaboratively to make this investment transformational. The public and private sectors need to collaborate to bring their best thinking and innovations to our railways, airports, and other systems that move people and goods, among others.

In 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment in Jobs Act, unlocking billions in spending and creating jobs in a variety of industry sectors. Los Angeles is well positioned to make transformational change in our infrastructure needs.

To help maximize California’s success in deploying this historic funding, Governor Gavin Newsom chose former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to serve as an Infrastructure Advisor, to work with local, state and federal leaders to identify priority projects and maximize infrastructure investment.

Last month, the Governor signed an ambitious permitting and project review reform package to facilitate and streamline project approval and completion and maximize California’s use of federal infrastructure funding, to expedite projects that meet the state’s climate goals. California is deserving of transformational infrastructure to better the lives of all Californians.

We are grateful to HNTB for their initiative in bringing together great leaders to discuss the State of Infrastructure. Join us as we discuss how business and civic leaders are working together to drive innovation in the region’s infrastructure.