Skip to main content

Transport investment bill plea in open letter to US Congress

A partnership of American road and transport-minded bodies and individuals has delivered an open letter to Congress urging the approval of the multi-year surface transport investment bill. More than 1,000 entities signed the letter from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce-led Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) coalition.
March 15, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSA partnership of American road and transport-minded bodies and individuals has delivered an open letter to Congress urging the approval of the multi-year surface transport investment bill. More than 1,000 entities signed the letter from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce-led 3952 Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) coalition. The ATM’s delivery of the letter, on Wednesday, 25 January, marked the launch of the new ARTBA and ATM advertising and grassroots campaign, 'Make Transportation Job #1,' stressing the need for what it believes is a long overdue piece of legislation.

The current highway and transit authorisation law, known as SAFETEA-LU, expired nearly 850 days ago. The programmes have been operating under a series of short-term funding extensions since October 1, 2009, and the current one ends on March 31 2012.

“Our message to the Congress is simple: ‘It’s time to do your job,” said ARTBA president Pete Ruane. “Pass a properly-funded surface transportation bill to kick-start the economy and get America moving again.”

The ARTBA and ATM coalition is running a six-digit figure ad campaign in Washington and key states and districts around the country over the month of February, including television, radio and on-line ads. The ‘Make Transportation Job #1’ campaign will also include a radio tour and a grassroots initiative during the congressional recess.

ARTBA is supporting the activities of ATM through its ‘Transportation Makes America Work’ (TMAW) campaign, a long-term communications and advocacy programme aimed at building public and political support for new transportation investments. Under TMAW, the association will soon broadcast a television advert featuring transport-related speech excerpts from former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, while calling on members of Congress to work together to complete action on the bill. The ATM is a nationwide effort by business, labour, transport groups and concerned citizens to advocate for improved and increased investment in the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ARTBA addresses wetlands permissions
    April 19, 2012
    The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) is offering the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) advice on reducing unnecessary regulatory red-tape on transportation projects through improving the wetlands permissions process. ARTBA has submitted comments to the Corps in response to a government-wide regulatory review initiated by President Obama in 2011. This advice from ARTBA details specific recommendations to make wetlands permitting more efficient. ARTBA is working on ways to reduce u
  • Innovation to drive US work zone death cuts
    April 25, 2012
    Innovation must drive new strategies to reduce the near 600 deaths and 40,000 injuries that occur annually in US roadway construction zones, according to a leading American highway industry association figure. Speaking during the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) Brad Sant, ARTBA’s top safety expert, said: “Just last week, ARTBA renewed its innovative alliance with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and industry partne
  • ARTBA: Up to 9,600 jobs at risk if Pennsylvania cuts transport works
    August 1, 2013
    Cutting highway and bridge work in the US state of Pennsylvania by 25% in any given year, and then sustaining it in future years, would cost the state US$1.25 billion in lost economic activity over a five-year period and put as many as 9,600 jobs permanently at risk, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) chief economist. Dr. Alison Premo Black’s assessment of the impact of the potential impact of state-wide transport works cuts was part of her testimony to the Pennsy
  • ARTBA concerned over drop in US highway spending
    March 4, 2013
    Despite the 2012 passage of the US federal surface transportation law, known as MAP-21, the real value of highway and bridge contract awards over the last 12 months was down 3% compared the previous 12 month period. This is according to the latest analysis of McGraw-Hill Dodge data by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Taking into account changes in wages, materials and inflation, state and local governments awarded US$54.3 billion in real highway and bridge contract awards bet