Pa.’s infrastructure in need of an upgrade?

How will Biden's infrastructure plan impact Pa.?

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Matt Rourke / AP Photo

FILE PHOTO: A road passing beneath the Delaware River Bridge is barricaded in Bristol, Pa., Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.

 
Airdate: Wednesday, April 28, 2021

 
The need to improve, upgrade and modernize the nation’s infrastructure is an issue that most Americans and elected officials from both parties can agree on.

The American Society of Civil Engineers 2021 Report Card gave the U.S. infrastructure a grade of C-. That’s actually up from a D+, but overall 11 of the 17 categories graded got D’s.

The ASCE’s report says 43% of U.S. roads are poor or mediocre and there’s a water main break every two minutes across the country.

The last report for Pennsylvania was in 2018 and it too gave the state a C-. Have there been improvements and what parts of infrastructure need to be repaired or modernized?

President Joe Biden has proposed a $2 trillion infrastructure plan and while there is bipartisan support for infrastructure, there are objections to how much Biden’s plan cost and what he calls infrastructure.

Wednesday’s Smart Talk looks at Pennsylvania’s infrastructure needs.

Appearing on the program are Stephanie Slocum, American Society of Civil Engineers Central Pennsylvania representative and founder of Engineers Rising LLC , Melissa Batula, Acting Executive Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Felicia Dell, Director, York County Planning Commission.