Renew America's Commitment to Surface Transportation Infrastructure
Since the current highway law (SAFETEA-LU) expired on Sept. 30, 2009, the highway program has been operating under a series of short-term extensions. The uncertainty surrounding reauthorization has hit the construction industry hard. Without a clear sense of what resources will be available for future investment, states have not been able to plan major new projects. As a result, contractors are not hiring new workers or buying equipment.
Unfortunately, Congress and the administration have not made highway reauthorization a priority. Despite the most recent highway program extension expiring on Sept. 30, 2011, the House and Senate have yet to introduce highway reauthorization legislation. We strongly urge Congress to complete a multiyear highway reauthorization law by the end of the year and to find fiscally responsible ways to ensure the long-term integrity of the Highway Trust Fund, restore transparency to the highway program, and to rebuild our nation's crumbling infrastructure.
In order for the U.S. to remain competitive in the coming years, Congress must make an adequately funded multi-year highway reauthorization bill an immediate priority.
Our nation's surface transportation is in dire need of a major upgrade. TRIP, a national transportation research group, reports that 32 percent of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, that 24 percent of our bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and that 44 percent of our major urban highways are congested. Driving on roads in need of repair costs U.S. motorists $67 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs – $324 per motorist.
The Texas Transportation Institute, one of the nation's leading authorities on congestion issues found that wasted fuel and lost productivity due to traffic congestion cost the U.S. economy $115 billion in 2009. The total amount of wasted fuel topped 3.9 billion gallons - equal to 130 days of flow in the Alaska Pipeline. The amount of wasted time totaled 4.8 billion hours – equivalent to the time Americans spend relaxing and thinking in 10 weeks.
A robust highway bill could put the American economy on a surer fiscal path and lay a solid foundation for economic growth, including substantial job growth. That means it is up to us to continue to build the case for increased investment both inside the Beltway and back in the real world, including contacting your members of Congress to let them know how you feel about highway reauthorization.
