Dr. Alexander Metcalf, High-Speed Rail Expert, Don Siefkes, Chemical Engineer, and Mary Alford, Professional Engineer led a timely Zoom Town, sponsored by the Coalition for a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB). From their unique perspectives, the presenters detailed what new 21^st century infrastructure projects would look like with an NIB. (Watch here.)

Dr. Metcalf laid out the parameters of a new National network of high-speed rail. Mr. Siefkes detailed his proposal for constructing a water pipeline to the Colorado River. Mary Alford built an argument on the need for a newly designed electric grid.

NIB senior economist, Alphecca Muttardy discussed an upcoming draft of a new NIB bill in Congress, modelled on the previous bill, HR3339. She detailed how the scale of the NIB would need to be increased, particularly with inflation, to cover all the Nation’s needs. The new NIB bill will likely be $7 trillion (not $5 trillion), but will still require no new federal money and no new federal taxes!! 

A very likely back and forth ensued on all the different infrastructure proposals.

Speakers:

Dr. Alexander Metcalf, Ph.D., President, Transportation Economics and Management Company; international expert in rail, ports, and supply chains, Frederick, Md

Don Siefkes, MIT trained Chemical Engineer, General Motors Design, (ret.), San Leandro, Ca

Mary Alford, Professional Engineer, Alachua County Commissioner; Principal, The Sustainable Design Group (fmr.), Gainesville, Fl

Alphecca Muttardy, Senior Economist, International Monetary Fund, (ret.), Fairfax, Va

Moderator: Robert Lynn, Jr., Organizer and Political Director United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 50, (ret.), Toledo, Oh