America’s infrastructure is showing its age. Roads are cracking, bridges are becoming less stable, our schools are aging and our ports can’t accept the new, larger boats that are made possible by the expansion of the Panama Canal.

Not only are these degradations a danger to Americans, but they’re costing this country money and jobs. By some estimates, our infrastructure problems could cost us as much as $1 trillion per year and 3.5 million jobs. Every time you’re stuck in traffic is lost time.

We need to immediately invest in infrastructure. Not only can we avoid the negative repercussions, but we can create up to 15 million jobs over a ten-year period. The Federal Reserve and IMF both estimate that every dollar spent on infrastructure earns $1.5-$3 back. And we’ll decrease deaths related to the poor condition of our roads and bridges.

We can also use this opportunity to modernize our infrastructure, including power plants, sewer, water systems, and public transportation. We can look to invest in a nationwide fiber-optic network. We can also use this rebuild to experiment with innovative new technologies, such as solar-cell roadways, used to generate free electricity for the surrounding communities.