CITY INFRASTRUCTURE
In Focus
"See more clearly when you are informed"
City Infrastructure are the physical systems that support essential components for a city to function & develop; e.g., streets, energy, water, sanitation, information networks, waste management, & green spaces. Strategizing the design of residential, commercial, & Community spaces can lead to better quality of life for residents of an area. Below you will find key terms, statistics, and other useful tools to understand and talk about City Infrastructure. If you would like to know more, consider coming to an IYC event. Our next one can be found below in the section labeled Our Events. We host them virtually, on a wide range of topics, discussing policy, civics, and current events.
Key Terms You Should Know
City (AKA urban) Infrastructure:
Physical systems that support essential components for a city to function & develop; e.g., streets, energy, water, sanitation, information networks, waste management, & green spaces.
Open Space:
Undeveloped land that is accessible to the public; may be publicly or privately owned; e.g., playgrounds, plazas, parks, vacant lots.
Environmental impact Assessment (EIA):
Evaluation of the potential effects & risks of a proposed project or policy for the natural & human environment.
Urban Resilience:
Ability of an urban system to withstand & recover from a natural disaster or economic downturn.
Urban Planner:
Strategize the design of residential, commercial, & Community spaces considering variables like population growth; distinct from civil engineers who advise on & execute design buildout addressing practical scientific limitations.
Moments In History
312 BCE - Via Appia, 1st great Roman road built.
1927 - Uniform Building Code (UBC) created.
2021 - Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) approved.
1880 - U.S. power grid begins in lower Manhattan.
1935 - Works Progress Administration (WPA) creates jobs .
Statistics
According to World Vision, 80% of New Orleans was under water after Hurricane Katrina and the levees broke.
According to USA Facts, in 2021, state and local governments spent 218.5B on transportation
and infrastructure.
According to a 2020 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office,
54% of school districts need updates or replacements to building systems.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 14% of 1.7 million prime age engineering workers are black or latinx
According to Amtrak, in 2023, it served
28 million Americans, across
21,000 miles in 46 states.
Values
Development
Efficiency
Safety
Sustainability
Quality of Life
Notable Names
Hattie T. Scott Peterson
Thomas Crapper
Pete
Buttigieg
Jane
Jacobs
Frederick
Law Olmsted
Symbols
Our Events
Past
Future
Further Resources
City Infrastructure Infographic
Share what you have learned about City Infrastructure. Our Infographic has been designed to be shared easily by printing, emailing, or posting on social media. Click on the image to view or download the PDF File. (Not for commercial use.)
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Take Action
Become involved with local community infrastructure initiatives like neighborhood watch & community gardens because People are part of city infrastructure too!
Entertain yourself w/ Cities: Skylines, SimCity, or Pocket City; play w/ lego city sets; visit Disney World’s Living with the Land ride.
Research topics related to water like fluoridation, Erin Brockevich, and the 2014 Flint Michigan water crisis.
Talk to people in your community to balance local business & community needs about congestion pricing, gentrification, & community benefit agreements.
Share our City Infrastructure Infographic with friends, family, and anyone and everyone you think would appreciate becoming more informed!