Secretary Foxx on National Bus Tour to Emphasize Transportation Investment
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is now traveling across the country to showcase the importance of transportation investment, at a time when the nation’s transportation bill is set to expire and the Highway Trust Fund is rapidly running out of funds.
The Invest in America, Commit to the Future bus tour will, according to the DOT, “visit communities that have created jobs and new opportunities by investing in transportation, as well as communities with transportation projects that are waiting on needed funding.”
Eight states are on the route, beginning in Columbus, Ohio, and ending in Dallas,Texas.
Secretary Foxx is making the case for a robust multi-year Federal investment as proposed by the Obama Administration that will address the current shortfall and meet the country’s future needs, all without adding to the deficit.
“Throughout our history, Americans have always been able to leave their children a brighter future, thanks in part to the opportunities transportation has provided,” said Secretary Foxx. “Right now, we are failing our children. We need to not only invest in America, but commit to the future – not only rebuild and repair our roads and bridges, but expand opportunities and economic growth for generations to come.”
According to the World Economic Forum, America’s transportation system is currently ranked 25th in the world, behind countries like Barbados and Oman. Without additional investment, deficiencies in our nation’s infrastructure will cost businesses more than $1 trillion every year in lost sales.
Despite this growing need, the Highway Trust Fund, which provides most of the federal support for state transportation projects, is on track to start bouncing checks as early as August.
In January, the Department of Transportation began posting a ticker online so the American people can track the remaining funds, available here.
On February 26, Secretary Foxx joined President Obama to announce a plan to address the infrastructure deficit with a $302 billion, four-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal.
The plan, according to the Secretary’s office, “will invest in our national infrastructure network, increase safety and efficiency, and provide greater access to ladders of opportunity, all without adding to the deficit.”
Later this month, Secretary Foxx and President Obama will send a bill to Congress that will make this vision a reality and put more Americans back to work repairing and modernizing our roads, bridges, railways, and transit systems.
Category: Featured, General Update
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