The American Cement Association (ACA) joined 33 of America’s leading transportation construction industry associations and construction unions in releasing updated policy principles to guide congressional development of the next multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, which funds America’s highways, roads, bridges, multimodal systems and safety programs.
As a member of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), ACA is encouraging Congress to embrace the coalition’s updated Principles for Surface Transportation Reauthorization, which would ensure states, communities and industries have the certainty required to plan, procure and deliver critical transportation improvements safely, efficiently and cost-effectively.
“Reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Bill before the September 30th deadline is essential to maintaining the long-term funding certainty that states and communities depend on to plan and deliver the infrastructure projects that keep Americans safe, connected and economically competitive,” said Sean O’Neill, ACA senior vice president of government affairs. “Congress must act now – ensuring that roads, bridges, transit systems and rail programs continue to serve the American public without interruption.”
“Americans see and feel the value of federal transportation investments every day, from safer school drop-offs and shorter commutes to high-quality construction jobs that revitalize communities,” the TCC said in a joint statement. “Our industry is ready to keep delivering these results to every congressional district across the nation. These principles offer a clear framework for Congress to keep America moving for the next five years and beyond.”
The newly unveiled principles offer a clear roadmap to ensure Congress delivers strong, reliable infrastructure investments across the country by:
- Keeping America building by protecting current investment levels and adjusting them for inflation to maintain purchasing power, while enacting project delivery improvements to ensure dollars are efficiently put to use.
- Protecting workers in construction zones with more resources to help keep construction workers and the traveling public safe while road improvements are made.
- Stabilizing long-term funding by modernizing federal user fee structures, such as fuel taxes or mileage-based mechanisms, to ensure fair, sustainable revenue streams.
