US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx urged Congress Friday to act on a long-term transportation bill after completing a five-state tour of infrastructure projects in need of investment.
“I traveled up the East Coast this week to focus America’s attention on our roads, rails and ports – and to let people know that the future is a choice,” said Secretary Foxx. “If Congress fails to invest in transportation, we fail to invest in our future.”
On February 2, the Obama Administration announced a plan to address the infrastructure deficit with a $478 billion, six-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal building on the GROW AMERICA Act, which the Administration first released last year. The plan makes critical investments in infrastructure needed to promote long-term economic growth, enhance safety and efficiency, and support jobs for the 21st century.
Earlier this month, US DOT released a landmark study, “Beyond Traffic” that looked at the trends and choices facing America’s transportation over the next three decades. These included a rapidly growing population, increasing freight volume, demographic shifts in rural and urban areas, and a transportation system that’s facing more frequent extreme weather events. According to Secretary Foxx, a key takeaway of the study is that the US needs to keep investing in transportation for the sake of future generations.