Will a new Trump council make federal infrastructure look great again?

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Fragile Flatworm

Federal Infrastructure May Get Aesthetic Boost Under New Trump Council

A newly formed council within the US Department of Transportation may soon play a significant role in deciding which federally-funded transportation projects are deemed visually pleasing enough to receive government backing. The Beautifying Transportation Infrastructure Council, comprising eight members, will advise US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy on the aesthetics of planned bridges, roads, highways, airports, and transit hubs.

The council's chairman, architecture critic Justin Shubow, has expressed concerns about the lack of beauty in modern American infrastructure. "I think a lot of our landscape is soulless and ugly," he stated. Shubow believes that designing infrastructure with classic architectural styles could revitalize the nation's roads, particularly compared to Chicago's existing transportation projects.

However, critics argue that this approach may prioritize visual appeal over practical engineering requirements. According to Joseph Schwieterman, a transportation expert, adding aesthetics to road design can be complex and may not always result in cost-effective solutions. "So adding aesthetics to the mix will require some fancy footwork," he noted.

Despite these concerns, Shubow believes that small, thoughtful design elements can have a significant impact on infrastructure projects. He cited the example of planting wildflowers on highway medians as a potential solution. The council's focus on aesthetics may also influence its approach to Chicago's planned infrastructure projects, including the O'Hare Airport expansion and Union Station renovations.

While it remains unclear how the council will review individual projects or develop guidelines for USDOT funding decisions, Shubow emphasized the importance of incorporating design elements that promote livability and biophilia. He praised the planned expansion of Terminal D at O'Hare Airport, noting its inclusion of trees and greenery, which he believes will enhance the overall experience.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of this new council in improving the nation's infrastructure will depend on striking a balance between aesthetics and practical considerations.
 
idk about this beautifying council thing... sounds like they're more worried about how our roads look rather than like, fixing them or whatever 😂. I mean, yeah, it's cool that they're thinking about design and all but isn't this just gonna be an extra expense? 🤑 and what about the places where we need infrastructure to be functional? won't they prioritize those over looks? 🤔
 
I'm low-key impressed with this idea 🤔... like, who wouldn't want to see some pretty roads and bridges? 🚗 But I do worry about it being all about looks and not enough about function 🤷‍♂️. Like, what if they spend more time designing something that's gonna look sick but doesn't actually make the traffic flow any better? That'd be a waste of taxpayer $$$ 💸. And can you imagine trying to get approval for some wild design idea in Chicago? 😂 I hope this council is all about finding that balance between being pretty and getting the job done 🚧.
 
I think it's dope that they're adding some creativity to infrastructure design 🤯. I mean, who wouldn't want to see some sick arches or sleek designs on highways? But at the same time, I'm like "hold up, how are we gonna make sure this doesn't break the bank?" I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out. Maybe they can bring in some fresh ideas from other countries too, like those fancy Japanese trains 🚂.
 
🤔 so like they're creating a whole new thing just to make our roads look pretty 🌳 guess it's kinda cool that they're thinking about aesthetics but also thinkin' about how that might not be the most important thing in infrastructure planning 📊 did some quick research and found out that 75% of Americans agree that transportation projects should prioritize functionality over appearance 🤷‍♂️ meanwhile, some states are already incorporating green design elements into their highway systems like Oregon's pilot program to add native plants to roadside rest stops 🌿 it'll be interesting to see how this new council plays out and if they can really make a difference 🎯
 
I don't think this is gonna be as simple as just adding some plants to make roads look better 🌱💦. It sounds like they're planning to go full-on design overhaul, which could get expensive fast 💸. What if they prioritize style over safety or efficiency? That's gotta be taken into consideration, you know? The government's got a lot on their plate already, I'm not sure adding another layer of 'beauty' is necessary 🤔
 
🤔 I think it's actually kinda cool that the US is giving more thought to making their infrastructure look nice again 🌆. Justin Shubow makes some valid points about our landscape being soulless, but I also get why people might be skeptical about prioritizing aesthetics over practicality 💸.

On one hand, adding design elements like green spaces and plants can really make a big difference in the user experience 🌿. And if it's done thoughtfully, it can even have environmental benefits like improving air quality 🌟. On the other hand, we do need to make sure that any changes aren't going to break the bank or compromise safety 🚧.

I'd love to see how this council actually plays out and what kinds of projects they'll be approving 💡. Maybe we'll start seeing more Terminal D-style expansions at airports and train stations 🚂. Either way, it's definitely worth keeping an eye on 👀.
 
idk why they're creating a whole committee just to make our roads look prettier 🤷‍♂️ i mean, don't get me wrong, it's cool that they're thinking about design, but what about all the other important stuff? like safety and traffic flow? shouldn't we be prioritizing those things first? 😬 also, who gets to decide what's "beautful" anyway? sounds like a whole lotta politics 🤑
 
omg can you even imagine driving down the highway with some actual flowers growing outta the median 🌼😂 i feel like it would be so calming. but for real, i think its cool that they're giving design more importance now. like, our roads are literally the first thing people see when they come into a city, you know? and who says they can't be pretty too? 😊
 
🤔 I'm low-key hyped about this new council thingy! They're finally acknowledging that our roads and airports can be way more than just functional... I mean, have you seen some of these new highway designs? They look like they were designed by a 6-year-old 🤣. But for real though, adding some classic architectural styles could make America's infrastructure actually kinda pretty 😎. It's about time we prioritize our visual appeal over just getting the job done. And I'm loving the idea of planting wildflowers on highway medians - it's like a free stress-relief system! 🌼 But let's not forget, practicality still matters... we don't want to be building roads that are gonna collapse after 5 years 😬. It's all about finding that balance between aesthetics and function... fingers crossed this council gets it right! 👍
 
the key here is not to overthink it lol... we want our infrastructure to be functional but also, you know, pleasing to the eye 🤩 think about all the times you've driven down a highway and just been like "ugh, this is so boring" or never noticed that weirdly cool thing they did with the design. it's not rocket science but it shows we care about the people using our infrastructure 💡 plus, if we can make infrastructure more beautiful, we're already making it more livable 🌿
 
The idea of having a council that focuses on making our infrastructure look pretty is kinda cool 🤔 I mean who doesn't want to drive down a highway with some sick tree plantings? But at the same time, you gotta think about the cost and functionality of it all 💸 Like how do they even make sure the design isn't gonna be too pricey for the taxpayers? And what's considered "beautiful" anyway? Is it just about following classic styles or is there room for innovation? 🤷‍♀️ The O'Hare airport expansion with trees and greenery sounds like a great idea tho 🌳 Maybe this council can bring some much-needed visual appeal to our roads while still keeping things practical and cost-effective 💪
 
[Image of a smiling cat with a pair of sunglasses and a briefcase, sitting in front of a sleek, modern highway]

[ GIF: A road trip with a detour sign reading "Beautification" ]

[A picture of Justin Shubow, surrounded by architects and designers, looking thoughtful]

[ Emoticon :) ]
 
🚧🌳 so like what's the point of beautifying our infrastructure if we're just gonna end up with more traffic jams? 🤔 stats show that 75% of Americans want faster, safer roads but only 22% care about their design 😐 I mean, have you seen those new highway medians in Texas where they planted wildflowers? 🌼 they actually look kinda nice 😊

chart time: 👉 USA Infrastructure Spending as a % of GDP
📈 2010: 2.3%
📈 2020: 1.8%
📈 projected 2025: 2.1%

personally, I think it's cool that they're gonna prioritize design 🎨 but we need to make sure it doesn't break the bank 💸. I mean, have you seen the cost of Chicago's infrastructure projects? 🤯 that's like, whoa 😲
 
omg, can u imagine driving down the highway and seeing all those new bridges and roads that are literally works of art lol 🤩🌆 they're trying to make american infrastructure more beautiful and it's kinda cool i guess but at the same time, we don't wanna sacrifice functionality for looks u know? some ppl might say it's a great idea to add design elements to make infrastructure projects more livable and biophilic, but others think it's just gonna be a hassle 🙄 like what if it ends up costing more money than it's worth anyway? idk, can't wait to see how this all plays out 🤔🚧
 
🤔 just read about this new Trump council thingy... gotta say, it sounds kinda weird to me 🙄. I mean, who decides what's beautiful anyway? Are we gonna start prioritizing art over functionality or something?

i'm not sure if i love the idea of adding aesthetics to infrastructure projects, but at the same time, it can't hurt right? maybe having some design elements that promote livability and biophilia like Shubow mentioned could actually make a difference 🌿.

but what about the cost aspect? Joseph Schwieterman's point about fancy footwork is valid... i'm not sure how they're gonna make this work without breaking the bank 💸.
 
I'm low-key hyped about this new council 🤩. I mean, who doesn't love looking at pretty roads and bridges? But for real, it's great to see someone taking design into consideration when making decisions on federal infrastructure projects 🚧. Justin Shubow is all about bringing some classic style back to American landscapes, which is kinda cool 😎. Planting wildflowers on highways? Genius! It's not just about looks, though - livability and biophilia are key too 🌿💚. If they can find a balance between aesthetics and practicality, this could be a game-changer for our nation's infrastructure.
 
Ugh, I'm so done with the idea that our infrastructure needs to be Instagrammable 🙄. Like, who cares if it looks good? Can't they just focus on making sure it's safe and functional? This new council is going to make it even more bureaucratic and costly 💸. And what's wrong with modern architecture, anyway? It's not like it's all about soullessness and ugliness... some of my fave buildings are super futuristic and sleek 🤖. I hope they actually do some research before making these decisions, 'cause right now it just seems like a bunch of hipsters trying to make infrastructure cool 😒.
 
omg can you believe they're making a whole council just for how things look lol 🤔 what if it gets out of hand tho? like, won't it be hard to prioritize both looks and functionality? 🤷‍♀️ do they have any idea how much money this is gonna cost?! 💸 also i'm kinda down with the wildflower idea 🌼 but plants on highways can get trampled so what's the plan for that?! 🤦‍♀️
 
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