Mayors to Presidential Candidates

Let’s Talk Infrastructure

According to Boston University’s 2019 Menino Survey of Mayors – the only national representative survey of American mayors – city executives believe our nation’s crumbling infrastructure is the most important issue presidential candidates should be talking about on the campaign trail. In an open-ended question, 45 percent of mayors said infrastructure was the issue related to cities they hoped was discussed during the election, a response with so much consensus that the next top answer was housing affordability with only 15 percent.

Perhaps signaling growing concerns about the impacts of climate change on their cities, 25 percent of mayors cited water, wastewater, and stormwater projects, more than any other type of infrastructure project, when asked what type of “large” infrastructure project they would prioritize if they were given an unrestricted grant. This is a 40 percent increase since the question was last asked in 2015.

“Mayors are absolutely right that few issues matter more for our country’s future than investing in essential infrastructure – whether it’s roads and bridges, housing, mass transit, water systems, or any of the other structures that are too often taken for granted,” said Edward Skyler, Executive Vice President, Global Public Affairs at Citi and former Deputy Mayor of New York City. “Neglecting the infrastructure needs of our growing cities can deepen inequality. Our bank works with mayors across the country to invest in key projects that help our cities grow in more equitable ways.”

Many important types of infrastructure projects are related to transportation, specifically roads and mass transit, as well as bicycle and pedestrian friendliness. Overall, over three quarters of mayors believe their cities are “too oriented towards cars,” with over a third “strongly” agreeing with that statement. Likewise, nearly half of all mayors believe travel for bicyclists, persons with disabilities, and pedestrians is not safe in their cities, while over 90% believe the same for car drivers and mass transit riders. Nearly three quarters of mayors believe cities should make their roads more accessible to bicycles even if it means sacrificing driving lanes or parking, with just under a third “strongly” agreeing with that statement.