Written By: Jim Plasynski, Chief Revenue Officer, KorTerra

Over the past several months, the details of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed on November 15, 2021, have become clearer. Now that the bill has passed, damage prevention professionals need a concrete understanding of what the funding means for their operations and communities. This article focuses on what we know about the bill and how it will specifically impact organizations in the damage prevention industry.

What Is the Scope of the Infrastructure Bill?

According to whitehouse.gov, the $1.2 trillion bill includes approximately $550 billion in new federal investments in roads, bridges, water infrastructure, resilience, internet, and more. While a portion of the bill reauthorizes previous funding levels, the new $550 billion represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in U.S. history. Key highlights:

Largest federal investment in public transit ever. Largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak. Largest single dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system. Largest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in American history. Ensures every American has access to reliable high-speed internet through nationwide fiber buildout.

Why Should Damage Prevention Professionals Pay Attention to the Infrastructure Bill?

How does the Infrastructure Bill affect damage prevention operations? Regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, the Infrastructure Bill will begin impacting damage prevention professionals directly. To distribute funding efficiently, Congress chose to use traditional grant program channels that already exist. Based on my attendance at a recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Workshop organized by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, organizations eligible for funds are already mobilizing to secure project funding in their communities.

The initial funding for these projects is being secured now, and excavation related to Infrastructure Bill-funded projects is already underway in many regions.

Why Does the Infrastructure Bill Matter Even If Your Organization Isn't Receiving the Funding?

Over the past several months, members of our KorTerra team have been meeting with U.S. Senate and Congressional offices to share the damage prevention perspective on the bill's impact. What pressure does the Infrastructure Bill put on the 811 system? The 811 system is already stretched due to labor shortages that directly limit the ability of facility owners and contract locators to hire field locators for the work that's critical to damage prevention.

As Infrastructure Bill funding hits the 811 system in the form of accelerated fiber projects, major road reconstruction, new rail line construction, and underground water infrastructure rebuilds, the entire system will see a significant increase in locate request volume. More shovels and excavators in the ground everywhere means an already strained system gets pushed further.

How much could 811 ticket volumes increase due to the Infrastructure Bill? Projections suggest a 50% to 100% increase in ticket volume across many service areas as funded projects roll out over the next five years. That increase affects every organization connected to the 811 system, whether or not they receive Infrastructure Bill funding directly.

How Should Damage Prevention Organizations Prepare for the Infrastructure Bill?

In an environment where damage prevention teams are already stretched, the prospect of significantly more work creates urgency. Organizations need to evaluate their readiness now across three categories: people, processes, and technology.

People

How do you assess staffing readiness for a 50% to 100% increase in 811 ticket volume? Ask these questions: How many people would you need to add to handle that increase, and how quickly could you hire and onboard them? Think beyond headcount. If your volumes doubled, do the people you have today have the skills to manage the increased complexity? What leadership capacity or business analytics skills might you need to add to your team?

Processes

How mature are your damage prevention processes today? On a scale of 1 to 10, how operationally efficient are the workflows your organization uses to support damage prevention responsibilities? How would that score change at 1.5x or 2x your current ticket volume? Identify the top two or three areas where your operation would be challenged first, and start maturing those processes now.

Technology

Is your damage prevention technology ready for higher ticket volumes? Evaluate the tools that support your operation today. If ticket volumes increased 50% to 100%, would those tools scale with you? Where in your workflows could your teams use technology to increase efficiency, improve locate accuracy, and reduce risk? How accurate is your GIS and facility mapping data, and are you using it to screen tickets and eliminate unnecessary field work?

Start Preparing Now for the Infrastructure Bill's Impact on Damage Prevention

The Infrastructure Bill is large, and the dollars associated with it are already being mobilized. For damage prevention organizations, this presents both a significant challenge and an opportunity. Now is the time to evaluate your readiness and begin addressing the gaps.

Start the conversation with your leadership around the three categories of people, processes, and technology. That framework centers the discussion and helps prioritize where your program needs investment before the volume arrives.

Follow KorTerra's Infrastructure Bill Education Series as we track updates and continue to report on the bill's impact on the damage prevention industry.

About KorTerra, Inc.

KorTerra is the leading provider of damage prevention software, protecting billions of dollars in underground infrastructure. For over 30 years, the leading stakeholders in gas distribution, pipeline operation, telecommunications, electric distribution, contract locating, and city, county, and state governments have trusted KorTerra as their damage prevention solution. KorTerra helps mitigate risk and ensure the safety of field personnel by providing secure software platforms for processing 811 locate tickets, tracking and reporting asset damages, meeting regulatory compliance, and more. Explore additional solutions at korterra.com and follow KorTerra on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Paige Nygaard – KorTerra, Inc.
952.368.1911
marketing@korterra.com