Infrastructure

Failing Infrastructure from Flood Damage

Overview

Infrastructure investment is important because it supports economic growth and development. Infrastructure refers to facilities and related operations such as transportation, water supply, communication networks, energy supply and waste removal. Infrastructure represents sizable capital investment in facilities and equipment and substantial commitments of land and other natural resources.

As the Middle Tennessee Region continues to grow, the need for increased infrastructure will continue. Stated simply, growth requires infrastructure and infrastructure is expensive. Local and state government responsibilities and costs will increase as the growing population requires additional services. Dispersed development patterns that require new infrastructure such as roads and sewers have proven to be costly to implement and maintain for local and state governments. In some cases these new developments cannot provide return on initial investment, much less long-term and operational expenses. It will be essential for future infrastructure investment to focus on a fix-it-first strategy and encourage future growth to be centered around developed areas and major transportation corridors for our region thrive economically. CRT works with government leaders at the local, regional and state level to recognize public infrastructure needs in Middle Tennessee and suggests strategies to properly plan for continued demand.

Why It Matters

Our ten-county region now exceeds 1.7 million people representing over one-quarter of Tennessee’s total population of 6.2 million. Our region is comprised of over 3.4 million acres which is 13% of the state’s total land mass. Our region’s growing population requires both new and improved infrastructure—and both are costly. Six of our region’s counties are among Tennessee’s ten fastest growing and have infrastructure deficiencies reflecting both current and future requirements.

Infrastructure

Progress

Our ten-county region now exceeds 1.7 million people representing over one-quarter of Tennessee’s total population of 6.2 million. Our region is comprised of over 3.4 million acres which is 13% of the state’s total land mass. Our region’s growing population requires both new and improved infrastructure—and both are costly. Six of our region’s counties are among Tennessee’s ten fastest growing and have infrastructure deficiencies reflecting both current and future requirements.

Some limitations exist with the methodology used such as examining revenues at the county level only and also the need for state specific judgments for allocation of costs for some services across categories in keeping with state and local budgeting systems. Results of some 90 national studies triangulate however, which confirms the validity and reliability of the methodology. Generally, results can be practically interpreted to call for a balanced approach for land use planning and development decision making that includes an appropriate mix of land uses by the three categories examined. This approach can help ensure sustainable growth and cost effective.

Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC)

The Greater Nashville Regional Council provides statistics for public infrastructure needs across the state and within each county. GNRC estimates that between 2010 and 2030, over $3 billion dollars in public infrastructure funding will be required for the ten-county region. According to the Greater Nashville Regional Council and the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), our region’s ten counties account for over $3 billion of Tennessee’s projected $37 billion public infrastructure needs over the next decade. The ten-county Middle Tennessee region’s concentration of need is of statewide significance.

Tennessee Advisory Commission for Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR)

A cost of community services study performed by the American Farmland Trust is one national model that can be used by communities to understand the cost of community services on a county level scale. This methodology analyzes revenues and expenditures on a land use basis… residential, commercial/industrial, and farmland… for a specific fiscal year. Revenues by these land use categories and fiscal demands of public services (e.g. public safety, government administration, schools, courts, etc.) are examined to show the cost of providing these services to residential, commercial/industrial and farmland uses. Results of these studies provide local government decision makers a snapshot in time description of the net cost to local county governments by land use types for a particular fiscal year. In 2005, Cost of Services Studies were completed by the American Farmland Trust in Blount, Robertson and Tipton Counties in Tennessee.

American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee

In 2009, the Tennessee Chapter for the America Society of Civil gave Tennessee its first grade card on infrastructure. The state as a whole received a C. It is worth noting that the nation as a whole received a grade of D from ASCE.

Other Partners

University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Assistance Service

Infrastructure

Data

• 31% of Tennessee’s current 5 year infrastructure project needs are located in our region
  Source: TN Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
• Quality Growth Development could save $3.5 billion in infrastructure costs over 20 years
  Source: Report to the Region
• Quality Growth Development reduces new roads by 50%
  Source: Report to the Region