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1/ Let's talk about how highway spending can redress past environmental damage. The reconstruction of portions of the Tamiami Trail/US41 in South Florida is a great example.
The Tamiami/US41 runs straight through the Big Cypress National Preserve.
The Tamiami/US41 runs straight through the Big Cypress National Preserve.
2/ The 264-mile highway was completed in 1928 to connect Miami to Tampa. The major problem is that the highway - along with lots of other infra/hydrologic changes - dramatically reduced the natural southward flow of water into Everglades.
3/ The map shows a macro view. On a more granular level, the rendering shows how the small culverts (concrete tubes) under the Tamiami are totally insufficient to allow sufficient southward flow of fresh water into the Everglades.
4/ Effectively managing the area's hydrology matters a great deal for the health of the ecosystem. One quick example of how changes in the water level can affect how species behave.
5/ The push for restoration dates to "The Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act, December 1989," which authorized the Corps to "restore natural hydrologic conditions" to the Everglades. Restoration includes raising portions of the Tamiami.
6/ Roughly 2.3 miles of Tamiami have recently been elevated. This is excellent but also highlights how restoration fares compared to expansion.
Since 1989, the extent of FL's Interstate and principal arterial network has grown by 2,647 miles or 43%.
Since 1989, the extent of FL's Interstate and principal arterial network has grown by 2,647 miles or 43%.
7/ This project is example of what it can mean to "build back better." But let's also recognize that projects like the Tamiami elevation are NOT what traditional stakeholders have in mind when they shout about an infrastructure gap. For instance, USACE's recent report:
8/ The idea of need is incoherent in the absence of goals and values. Only when we decide what we want to achieve can we work backwards to determine what investments are needed to reach our goals. And this process is inherently political. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2020/04/14/483084/infrastructure-investment-decisions-political-not-technical/
9/ The only reason that we "need" to raise the Tamiami Trail is because we have decided to that habitat restoration should be a national policy goal (and one badly in need of more funding).
9/ So remember, the next time you hear a traditional stakeholder talk about need, they are talking about more of this 
10/ When what we really need is more of this to heal the scars left behind from past investment choices along with robust environmental review and deep community participation to avoid making these types of mistakes with future dollars.
to heal the scars left behind from past investment choices along with robust environmental review and deep community participation to avoid making these types of mistakes with future dollars.
