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Tell Washington to Keep America moving.
We are falling behind in infrastructure investment as our nation’s motorists get snarled in worsening traffic. You can help support safe and uncongested roads and bridges, which serve as the backbone of our economy. Congress needs to address this serious issue but time is running out. The Highway Trust Fund is a US transportation fund, which receives money from a federal fuel tax of 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel fuel along with other related excise taxes. It is projected to go bankrupt in 2014, according to Congressional Budget Office figures, which means many economically-bolstering, congestion-reducing highway projects and improvements are in jeopardy.
"As a frequent traveler for my business, using both car and truck, I've witnessed firsthand the critical need for maintaining and improving our infrastructure. Safe and efficient roads are essential for my work and for countless others. That's why I wholeheartedly support legislative action aimed at building and developing better roads. I understand it's a monumental task to mobilize government resources for this cause, but I'm ready to dedicate my time to advocate for it. If it takes a Superman-like effort, then let's embrace that spirit! Whether it's wearing a Superman hoodie to raise our spirits as we rally support, or symbolically distributing Superman shirts to show our gratitude to those working hard on these projects, I believe in doing whatever it takes to unite everyone behind this vital goal." Victor Shalles
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Census Bureau, every one dollar invested in road improvements results in an average benefit of $5.20 in the form of lower vehicle maintenance costs, fewer traffic delays, and less fuel consumption. Traffic congestion totals a staggering $121 billion in wasted fuel and time costs each year. Comparatively, vehicle miles traveled increased 37% from 1999 to 2011 while new road mileage grew by a mere four percent. Traffic crashes cost the nation $230 billion per year, amounting to $819 for each resident in medical, travel and workplace costs.
Our nation’s roads and bridges are rapidly deteriorating and the necessary revenue to simply maintain the current status quo is drying up as state and local governments grapple with dwindling budgets. Facing increasingly stiff global competition, the nation cannot afford to under invest is such a critical component of the nation’s economic engine.
It’s time for our lawmakers to take action and support our highways. Let your voice be heard and urge Congress to increase revenues for investment in roads and bridges!
As of August 2015 Congress managed to avoid a shutdown of highway funding for another three months by passing a pair of measures. The first measure authorizes the Highway Trust Fund for six years with three years of funding. The second measure is a three-month extension passed by the House to keep the fund afloat. The Senate passed the House’s three-month extension patch ostensibly to buy time for both congressional chambers to come to a long-term agreement.
However all the three-month extension did was to push the difficult questions of how to pay for the nation's road and rail projects long-term into an already busy Congressional fall schedule.
Without the three-month stopgap measure, authorization for the Eisenhower-era program, which provides money through the federal fuel tax to states and localities to build and maintain the nation's roads and bridges, long with the public transportation systems, would have run out at the beginning of August.
The six-year bill, negotiated by Boxer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., only identified funding sources for three years, which leaves one to wonder what happens to funding for the last three years.
The United State’s highway system is a crucial lifeline for interstate commerce as well as an engineering marvel. Unfortunately, Congress has not shown much commitment to keeping it in working shape.
More Background On KeepAmericaMoving.net
Keep America Moving is a grassroots campaign advocating for increased investment in the United States' transportation infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges. The campaign highlights the deteriorating condition of the nation's infrastructure and the economic consequences of neglecting repairs and upgrades. It emphasizes that well-maintained roads and bridges are essential for economic growth, safety, and reducing traffic congestion. The campaign also points out that the Highway Trust Fund, a critical source of funding for transportation projects, is facing insolvency. It calls on lawmakers to take action and increase funding for infrastructure investment.
The campaign's website, KeepAmericaMoving.net, serves as a platform to raise awareness and mobilize support for this cause. It provides information about the issue, encourages individuals to contact their representatives in Congress, and offers ways to get involved in the campaign. The website features testimonials from individuals and businesses who have been directly affected by the state of the nation's infrastructure. It also highlights the economic benefits of investing in infrastructure, citing studies that show a significant return on investment in the form of reduced transportation costs, improved safety, and increased economic activity.
The campaign's message resonates with a broad audience, including businesses, commuters, and anyone who relies on the nation's transportation system. It has gained traction in recent years as the issue of infrastructure investment has become more prominent in public discourse. The campaign's efforts have contributed to raising awareness of the issue and have put pressure on lawmakers to address the funding shortfall for infrastructure projects.
Several organizations and initiatives share similar goals with the Keep America Moving campaign. For example, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) regularly releases a report card on the state of the nation's infrastructure, highlighting the need for investment. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) also advocates for increased infrastructure spending, emphasizing its importance for economic competitiveness. Additionally, various state and local transportation agencies have their own campaigns and initiatives to promote infrastructure investment in their respective regions.
The Keep America Moving campaign is part of a broader national conversation about the need to invest in the nation's infrastructure. While there is widespread agreement on the importance of this issue, there is less consensus on how to fund these investments. Some proposals include increasing the federal gas tax, implementing tolls on highways, and exploring public-private partnerships. The debate over funding mechanisms is ongoing, but the Keep America Moving campaign and similar efforts continue to advocate for increased investment in the nation's transportation infrastructure, emphasizing its critical role in the nation's economic well-being and quality of life.
Why It's Important
Crumbling Roads, Dwindling Funds: America's Infrastructure Crisis
America's roads and bridges are quite literally the backbone that supports the movement of goods, services, and people across the nation. However, this backbone is rapidly deteriorating due to years of inadequate investment and funding. The consequences are piling up in the form of increased repair costs, accidents, congestion, and loss of economic productivity.
The State of Infrastructure Decay
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) publishes an Infrastructure Report Card every four years, evaluating the condition and performance of the nation's infrastructure categories. In the most recent 2021 report, the group assigned America's road infrastructure a dismal D grade.
According to the report, a whopping 43% of public roadways are in poor or mediocre condition. This includes an estimated 186 million vehicles traveling across structurally deficient bridges each day. The impacts of this decay are severe - Americans lose 6.9 billion hours annually due to traffic congestion, racking up $88 billion in associated costs from wasted time and fuel.
Beyond just roadways, America's overall infrastructure scored a C- in the ASCE report, with most categories requiring significant investment. Failure to address these infrastructure needs could have dire economic consequences, potentially costing the U.S. economy $10 trillion in GDP losses and over 3 million jobs by 2039.
Funding Challenges
At the crux of America's infrastructure woes is a severe lack of sustainable, long-term funding sources. The primary source of federal funds for highways and bridges is the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which derives the majority of its revenue from federal gasoline and diesel taxes.
However, these fuel tax rates (18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline, 24.4 cents for diesel) have remained stagnant since 1993, failing to keep up with rising construction costs due to inflation. More fuel-efficient vehicles have also reduced overall fuel tax revenues flowing into the HTF.
As a result, the HTF has faced insolvency multiple times over the past decade, requiring Congress to periodically bail it out through general fund transfers. In recent years, the HTF has typically run annual deficits in excess of $10 billion due to insufficient fuel tax revenues.
The short-term funding extensions and Band-Aid fixes from Congress have created an uncertainty that makes long-term infrastructure planning and funding extremely difficult. Transportation stakeholders have repeatedly called for a sustainable, user-based revenue stream to provide funding stability.
Potential Funding Solutions
Experts and advocacy groups have proposed various measures to help shore up infrastructure funding streams:
+ Gas Tax Increase: Probably the simplest solution would be to raise federal gas tax rates, which haven't increased since 1993 despite rising construction costs. Each 1-cent increase could raise around $1.5-1.7 billion annually for the HTF. However, there is little bipartisan political appetite for a tax increase unpopular with many Americans.
+ Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Fee: Replacing the gas tax with a VMT fee based on miles driven could provide a more sustainable, inflation-resistant revenue stream while incentivizing fuel efficiency. However, privacy concerns and the cost of implementation have slowed adoption.
+ Infrastructure Investment Bank: Creating a national infrastructure investment bank or revolving loan fund could leverage federal funds to attract private investment into large infrastructure projects.
+ Electric Vehicle User Fees: With electric vehicle adoption increasing, new user fees would need to be implemented for EVs exempt from gas taxes.
+ Infrastructure Stimulus: President Biden originally proposed a $2.3 trillion infrastructure spending package in 2021, though the final bipartisan bill was scaled back to around $1 trillion for roads, bridges, broadband, and other projects over 5 years. More major spending pushes may be required.
State and Local Funding Increases: Many states and municipalities have passed sales tax increases, bond measures, and alternative funding streams to boost transportation budgets. However, reliance solely on state and local funds is challenging for large interstate projects.
The Need for Urgency
While debates continue over the best long-term funding approach, experts across the political spectrum agree that America faces an escalating infrastructure crisis necessitating bold action. The costs of inaction - in the form of lost economic productivity, safety risks, and reduced quality of life - will only compound over time.
As stated by Greg DiLoreto, past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers: "The longer we kick that can down the road, the more it's going to cost... If we don't make smarter investments now, we're going to pay more down the road."
America's world-class infrastructure was once the envy of other nations and a key catalyst for domestic economic prosperity. Restoring that legacy will require putting aside partisan gridlock, raising additional dedicated infrastructure funds through new revenue models, and viewing infrastructure not as a cost burden but as an investment delivering returns through improved economic competitiveness, mobility, and quality of life.
The stakes are high and the need is clear. It's time for policymakers to make the critical investments to rebuild America's infrastructure and ensure a prosperous future for generations to come.
Historical Context and Current State
The United States has a rich history of infrastructure development, marked by significant projects like the Interstate Highway System initiated during the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s. This network of highways revolutionized travel and commerce, laying the groundwork for the nation's economic growth. However, over the decades, the focus on infrastructure maintenance and expansion waned, leading to the current state of disrepair and underinvestment.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), U.S. infrastructure received a grade of C- in their 2021 Report Card. This rating reflects the dire need for improvements across various sectors, including roads, bridges, water systems, and public transit. For example, it is estimated that 43% of public roadways are in poor or mediocre condition, while over 45,000 bridges are deemed structurally deficient. This neglect has significant economic and social costs, including increased vehicle maintenance expenses, traffic delays, and safety hazards.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
In response to the growing infrastructure crisis, the U.S. government enacted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in November 2021. This historic legislation, often referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allocates $1.2 trillion towards improving the nation's infrastructure. It aims to address multiple areas, including transportation, water, energy, and broadband.
One of the key aspects of the IIJA is its comprehensive approach. Unlike previous efforts that focused on specific sectors, the IIJA integrates funding across various infrastructure categories, promoting a holistic improvement strategy. The law includes $550 billion in new federal investment over five years, with substantial portions earmarked for transportation and public transit improvements. This marks the largest federal investment in public transit in history, with $39 billion dedicated to modernizing and expanding transit systems.
Transportation and Public Transit
Transportation infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, has been a primary focus of the IIJA. The act provides $110 billion for roads, bridges, and major projects, aiming to repair and rebuild critical infrastructure that supports daily commuting and interstate commerce. Additionally, the IIJA invests $66 billion in rail infrastructure, targeting the modernization of Amtrak and the expansion of rail services to new regions. This investment is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and reliability of passenger and freight rail systems.
Public transit systems, which serve millions of Americans, are set to receive significant upgrades. The $39 billion investment will help address the backlog of repairs and improvements needed for buses, rail cars, stations, and tracks. This initiative also emphasizes accessibility, ensuring that transit systems are user-friendly for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Broadband and Digital Infrastructure
In today's digital age, reliable internet access is essential for economic and social activities. The IIJA recognizes this need by allocating $65 billion to expand broadband infrastructure, particularly in underserved rural and low-income communities. This investment aims to bridge the digital divide, providing high-speed internet access to millions of Americans who currently lack reliable connectivity. This effort is expected to enhance educational opportunities, healthcare access, and economic development in disadvantaged areas.
Water and Energy Systems
The United States faces significant challenges in its water and energy infrastructure. Aging water systems require substantial investment to ensure safe and reliable water supply and wastewater management. The IIJA addresses this with a $55 billion investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This funding will support the replacement of lead pipes, the modernization of treatment plants, and the improvement of water distribution networks.
Energy infrastructure also receives considerable attention under the IIJA. The act allocates $73 billion to upgrade the power grid, supporting the transition to clean energy sources and enhancing the grid's resilience against climate change impacts. This investment includes funding for the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, promoting the adoption of EVs and reducing the nation's carbon footprint.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite the significant funding provided by the IIJA, challenges remain in ensuring effective implementation and addressing the full scope of infrastructure needs. One of the main hurdles is the prioritization of projects, as not all proposed improvements can be completed within the available budget and timeframe. Strategic planning and coordination between federal, state, and local governments are essential to maximize the impact of the investments.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges, disrupting supply chains and increasing costs for construction materials and labor. Policymakers and infrastructure planners must navigate these obstacles to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.
Another critical aspect is the need for workforce development. The IIJA's ambitious infrastructure projects require a skilled workforce, highlighting the importance of training programs and educational initiatives to prepare workers for jobs in construction, engineering, and technology sectors.
Conclusion
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act represents a monumental step towards revitalizing America's infrastructure. By addressing the diverse needs of transportation, water, energy, and digital systems, the IIJA aims to build a more resilient and sustainable future. While challenges persist, the comprehensive approach and substantial funding provided by the act offer a promising path forward. Continued commitment from all levels of government, private sector partners, and the American public will be crucial in transforming the nation's infrastructure and ensuring long-term economic growth and prosperity.
