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The 2015 Bottom Line Report on transportation investment needs was released by the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials and the American Public Transportation Association.
It estimates that to meet current demand it will require an annual capital investment over six years by all levels of government in the amount of US$120bn in the highway and bridge network and US$43bn in public transport infrastructure. Currently only US$83bn is invested in roads and bridges, while just US$17.1bn is invested in public transit, it says.
The top priority for every state transportation department is to keep America’s surface transportation system operating safely and efficiently,” said AASHTO executive director Bud Wright. While the new report highlights a major gap between what is needed and what is actually spent, Wright said that aiming for a more robust investment level “could target the backlog of repair and rehabilitation projects across the country. Workers would benefit – as would the entire US economy”.
APTA president and CEO Michael Melaniphy said: “As the demand for public transportation increases, our systems are strained and in dire need of strong investment. After years of a lack of robust investment, the public transit infrastructure that our communities and businesses rely on to grow and prosper is crumbling. Investment in public transit is a key ingredient to driving growth in our communities, attracting development and causing increased property values along its corridors.”
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