America’s surface transportation system is an integral component of our national and international economic competitiveness as well as our quality of life. However, the system has aged and is crumbling and crowded. The US population is growing and demands on the system will increase. On September 30, 2009 SAFETEA-LU, the current surface transportation authorization legislation, expired. This provides Congress and the Administration the opportunity to chart a new course for the nation by providing a surface transportation system that will propel the US forward.

SAFETEA-LU expired on September 30, 2009. The highway and transit programs have been operating under short term extensions ever since. The current extension expires on March 31, 2012. In addition, revenue in the Highway Trust Fund was not sufficient to fully fund authorized funding levels, requiring a transfer of general fund revenue. Going forward, without additional revenue, funding for the highway and transit programs will drop 35 percent from current levels. Identifying a revenue source has been the main stumbling block keeping Congress from addressing reauthorization. In addition, there is general agreement that the federal program needs to be reformed to focus it on a National objective, to make it more accountable by instituting performance measures, to give states more authority in determining investment priorities, to allow for more efficient use of tax payer dollars, and to speed project delivery.

State budgets have been cut significantly and the lack of action on highway and transit program authorization and funding has created huge uncertainty forcing states to be cautious in the number of highway contracts that they are able to put out for bid. This uncertainty not only affects state highway programs but the contractors, designers, subcontractors and material suppliers who work within these programs.

In the Senate, the bipartisan leadership of the Environment and Public Works Committee introduced MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century). That legislation has been reported from the EPW Committee on an 18-0 vote. Before the bill can be addressed by the full Senate, action must be taken by the Banking Committee on transit provisions, Commerce Committee on safety issues and Finance Committee on revenue.

In the House, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released their reauthorization proposal in July. However, legislation has not yet been introduced. Action is not expected until late January or February 2012.

AGC has analyzed MAP-21 and the House proposal. Our analysis can be found here.

AGC of America needs your help to ensure Congress understands that solving our highway and transit funding challenges is essential to our long-term economic growth and prosperity. You can help by contacting your congressional delegation, writing to the local media and spreading the word with your friends, family and industry partners.

Write to Your Elected Officials!

• Use customizable template letters that can be sent to elected officials urging support and passage of a new highway and transit bill.

Meet With Your Elected Officials!

• Use customizable sample request letter and sample talking points to help guide your comments during that meeting. Attend town hall meetings and use the sample talking points to raise during the meeting.

Contact Your Local Media!

• Template Op/Eds can be edited to best suit your needs and be sent to your local paper for consideration as an Op/Ed. Meeting with your local paper's editorial board can be more effective. Request a meeting with your local newspaper's editorial board. Radio can also be an effective way to communicate your concerns. Call your local radio station to see if they'd be willing to interview you or consider placing an ad.

Spread the Word!

• The more public support we have, the greater our chances of making real investment in our nation's transportation infrastructure. Use the suggestions for organizing and holding a news conference to push for Congressional support of a new highway and transit bill. Use social media networks to help get the word out about our country's surface transportation needs.

Additional Resources:

• Visit the new Web site www.FasterBetterSafer.org - special website designed to provide a range of information about the need for a new surface transportation bill, the impacts of having no bill, and the current state of local road and transit conditions.
• Use template print and electronic advertisements to highlight local road and transit problems (traffic, aging roads, unsafe bridges, poor transit service) and encourage viewers of the ad to take action.
• Use state-by-state data on congestion costs and infrastructure needs.
• Use congestion costs for major metropolitan areas in your talking points.

AGC Surface Transportation Reauthorization Priorities

Further investment in transportation infrastructure will help the nation achieve economic growth and job creation while restoring America’s exceptional promise. It is imperative that our country invest in our infrastructure to grow the economy. Elimination of unnecessary programs and requirements should be a key component of reauthorization. However, this alone will not provide the resources needed to support a targeted, cohesive national transportation policy. AGC’s priorities for surface transportation reauthorization include:

• Establish a Clear, Achievable National Goal
• Multi-Year Authorization
• Performance Standards
• Supplementing Current Revenues/Innovative Financing
• Freight Movement
• User Fee Financing
• Project Delivery and Streamlining
• Reform Transportation Program
• Clean Construction
• Work Zone Safety

View all Highway & Transportation news

Reauthorization Resources

• Future Needs of the US Surface Transportation System
• Surface Transportation Policy Recommendations
• Revenue Resources to Fund Transportation Needs
• America's Freight Challenge
• Accelerating Project Delivery
• A New Vision for the 21st Century
• Transportation Governance and Finance: A Fifty State Review
• Funding and Financing Solutions for Surface transportation in the Coming Decade
• Report on Trials to Implement Vehicle Miles Traveled Fees

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