Skip to main content

US transportation bill moves forward

The US Government is making progress with its new surface transportation bill, in a move that will be of good news to all contractors and construction firms in the country. This bill has been delayed now for two years, with a knock-on effect for the construction industry in that there have been few new works commencing. American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) president Pete Ruane has commented on the US Senate EPW Committee Mark-Up of MAP-21, the Surface Transportation Bill. Ruane said,
April 26, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The US Government is making progress with its new surface transportation bill, in a move that will be of good news to all contractors and construction firms in the country. This bill has been delayed now for two years, with a knock-on effect for the construction industry in that there have been few new works commencing.

American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) president Pete Ruane has commented on the US Senate EPW Committee Mark-Up of MAP-21, the Surface Transportation Bill. Ruane said, “Today’s unanimous vote in the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee in support of a two-year surface transportation bill that would maintain current authorisation levels and institute a host of important policy reforms is a critical step toward beginning to address the nation’s enormous infrastructure challenges.” He continued, “It also demonstrates that bipartisanship is still a viable option in the pursuit of public policy solutions. We commend Chairman Boxer and Senators Inhofe, Baucus and Vitter for their leadership in producing the MAP-21 proposal. “As positive as today’s action is—particularly after more than two years of temporary extensions—the fundamental obstacle to a multi-year surface transportation bill remains. We urge the Senate Finance Committee to act quickly in securing the additional revenue necessary to support the bill’s transportation investments. Hundreds of thousands of American jobs are at risk until both the Senate and House complete action on a long-term highway and transit reauthorisation bill.”

Related Content

  • New Roadmap Shows Industry and Agencies How to Decarbonize Asphalt Pavements
    August 14, 2024

    In a detailed follow-up to its 2022 GHG Emissions Inventory for Asphalt Mix Production in the United States (SIP 106), the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) is providing a comprehensive roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with asphalt pavements.  

  • TRA 2014 showcases the best of cutting-edge transport research and thinking
    July 1, 2014
    Despite tight finances due to the current global economic climate, the recent Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 show in Paris showed how innovative transport research, largely using cutting-edge ITS, is creating safer and smarter highways of the future. Guy Woodford reports How far can you drive around a car race track with no other vehicles on it on half a glass of fuel while attempting to maintain a speed of 60kph? After taking up the challenge offered by the Eco Driving Simulator using SiVIC (Simulatio
  • FIEC calls for coherent investment in Europe's infrastructure
    April 24, 2012
    The European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) is calling on the European Governments to recognise the importance of investing in infrastructure. The FIEC says it recognises the challenging economic climate and the need for governments to cut unsustainable levels of public debt. But FIEC president Luisa Todini commented, “Austerity is however not a solution by itself.” Europe’s transport, energy and telecommunication networks are the backbone of the EU internal market, ensuring that goods and services
  • Transports costs and lives can be saved through road maintenance
    November 27, 2013
    A group has united with a common aim, that roads must be maintained to save lives and money. The European Commission and national governments are being called upon to step‐up road maintenance standards by organisations, which represent consumers, road and vehicle industries, and safety bodies. The group comprises the Féderation International de l'Automobile (FIA), the European Road Federation (ERF), the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), a