Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and American Public Transportation Association (APTA) CEO Michael Melaniphy will hold a briefing Tuesday, March 10 on highway and transit investment needs at the U.S. House Cannon Office Building.
The briefing will cover capital spending requirements for U.S. transportation systems, at a time when lawmakers are discussing how to craft a multi-year surface transportation authorizing bill before current Highway Trust Fund authority runs out May 31.
Wright said they plan to draw on the recent AASHTO-APTA "Bottom Line Report," which estimates that $163 billion in capital project spending is needed annually over six years to fix the nation's aging surface transportation system – $120 billion for roads and bridges, and $43 billion for transit.
That need level is far above actual spending levels. According to the report, public's capital investment in transportation infrastructure at all levels of government is approximately $105 billion a year, of which $88 billion goes to roads and bridges, and $17 billion is spent on transit.
When the report was released in December, Wright said, "There is little disagreement about the value of transportation. The business community, trade unions, commercial truck drivers and numerous associations including AASHTO and APTA support greater investment. The key is reaching consensus on Capitol Hill."
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