Rick Dimino

This year, over $7 billion in new construction is underway in Boston alone, with billions more in the Greater Boston region expected in the next few years. From transit-orientated development along the Red and Green line corridors to new buildings in the Seaport District, Greater Boston is seeing economic development projects that change where we work, where we live and how we commute.

Other cities would love to see this pace of growth, but it does put increased pressure on our existing infrastructure and resources. Therefore, it is essential to properly plan for a future infrastructure system that can support the growing needs for transportation, energy and water supply. If we do not, our quality of life and the strength of our economy will be threatened.

A Better City – an organization of business leaders focused on Boston and the region’s economic health and competitiveness – last week released a report, “State of the Built Environment.” The study looked at Greater Boston’s current infrastructure performance and our projected needs for 2030. When we account for changes in population and the labor force, the analysis showed that much needs to be done to upgrade our infrastructure environment while we also prepare for the impacts of a changing climate.

Short- And Long-Term Challenges

The population in Greater Boston is expected to grow by 10 percent between 2010 and 2030, which brings an increase of 428,000 residents. As a result, Greater Boston is likely to see an additional 117,000 commuters each day on our roads, public transportation system and sidewalks. Can our highways handle 80,000 more cars during the rush-hour commute? Today’s drivers traveling into downtown Boston each day would likely wonder if that is even possible. We can expect to see 25,000 more riders on the MBTA subway and bus system every workday – which would require planning, infrastructure and service changes, because the Red, Orange and Silver lines are already over capacity during peak hours.

The increase in the workforce in Greater Boston will ultimately demand additional infrastructure needs to meet the needs of businesses that employ them. The report projects business output will increase by nearly 28 percent between 2010 and 2030, and therefore a significant increased demand for natural gas, electricity and water based on our current usage rates and behavior. However, if commensurate infrastructure is not forthcoming, business will not be able to continue to grow at our currently projected rate. Of course, part of the solution must be addressed through conservation, new technologies and improved efficiency measures, but it is clear that Greater Boston has both a near term and future infrastructure challenges.

Gov. Charlie Baker and Legislative leadership are currently working on legislation to address the commonwealth’s energy needs for the next few years. The MBTA’s Fiscal Management and Control Board is trying to prioritize capital infrastructure spending on maintenance projects that will improve service on the core subway system within a few years. Now that we have a baseline for Greater Boston’s projected needs in energy, transportation, water, and electricity, A Better City hopes to evaluate these current policy plans in future editions of this report.

There are no easy answers and we can’t solve our infrastructure problems with the release of this report. However, we do know that bringing together leaders in the public, private and stakeholders community to focus on infrastructure is the best way to start. Setting our horizon for the needs of 2030 gives us time to plan on how we should get there. Otherwise, the growth and success of the Greater Boston area will likely also be held back because of capacity issues.

Rick Dimino is president and CEO of A Better City.