The National League of Cities recently released its sixth annual State of the Cities report, and infrastructure ranked as one of the top topics.
Issues and subtopics for the report were derived from State of the City speeches delivered between January and April. Topics needed to be mentioned in at least 10 percent of a speech to be included in the report.
The league identified 10 major issues and 185 related subtopics. Infrastructure ranked second, at 57 percent, after economic development.
Infrastructure has climbed in the rankings over the past four years. Topics concerning mayors this year included ways to improve access to amenities and enhance safety, traffic calming strategies and flow improvements, pedestrian safety, and technology-driven solutions to traffic.
Traffic-calming strategies include redesigning intersections and synchronizing traffic signals.
“Nothing affects the quality of life in our neighborhoods more than the condition of our infrastructure and roads.” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said in January.
Mayors nationwide and the league urge Congress to pass comprehensive infrastructure legislation and to work with the league to rebuild and reimagine America’s infrastructure.
The other topics in the top 10 were health and human services, energy and environment, budgets & management, housing, public safety, demographics, education, and government data and technology.