The need to maintain and develop infrastructure in the United States — roads, bridges, energy, water and schools — has been a pressing topic during the 2008 election year. Despite recent high-profile infrastructure catastrophes, however, the issue has not reached the level of other hot button topics, such as foreign policy and the economy, except indirectly as a means to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have announced support for initiatives that would fund and facilitate more development and maintenance of roads, bridges and other traditional infrastructure. They also have referenced past national infrastructure programs, such as those of the 1930s, as examples of successful government programs that created jobs and laid a foundation for growth in the United States. The candidates have not pledged to adopt such a comprehensive program, but their calls to build and maintain infrastructure is dovetailing with