Everywhere are signs of an aging state. Our streets and highways need repair and expansion. Most of our bridges are structurally deficient or obsolete. Some of our towns have water mains that are more than a century old. Our drinking water and wastewater facilities need modernization. Some of our cities have turn-of-the-century brick sewers that have far outlived their life expectancy. Our airports need more runways and bigger terminals. Our flood control systems need shoring up.

Today California faces a multibillion shortfall in its infrastructure investment. (Check out the ReBuild File for the hard facts.) Our population, now 34 million and climbing, is straining its infrastructure -- the public works at the core of our society.

Those structures and systems constitute a framework that we all own together and which we all rely on day in and day out. We take them for granted -- until they fall apart or cease to function efficiently. Then we all pay a higher price.

The health of our infrastructure directly affects our economic stability. In order for California to compete in today's global economy, businesses need to move goods quickly. Trucking operations must have free-flowing, well-maintained highways. Shipping companies need deep-water channels and suitable docking facilities. Airports need expansion to meet increases in both passengers and cargo.

The stakes are enormous today. It is well-documented that spending on infrastructure spurs employment, stimulates investment, improves private economic performance, bolsters the economy in the short term and positions us for long-term growth - to say nothing of improving our quality of life.

The stakes are enormous for tomorrow as well. We must hand over to future generations of Californians a sound public works foundation to build upon so their futures will be better and brighter.

The state has made strides in recent years to ensure this legacy, but an enormous amount of work remains to be done. To learn more visit the following pages:

The Transportation Crisis
The Water/Wastewater Challenge
The Housing Shortage
The Rebuild File/Other Challenges