The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) is urging Congress to adopt a transportation funding policy objective that would keep congestion and delays from worsening.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, in its 2006 report to Congress released last month, estimates that maintaining current bridge and road conditions would require $78.8 billion per year by all levels of government. USDOT acknowledges that it would require an additional $11 billion annually to keep congestion from becoming worse.

Most of the additional funding would be used to increase highway system capacity. ARTBA believes the policy objective should be part of the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization.

Capacity is also becoming part of the discussion in Pennsylvania as policymakers consider funding levels for the Commonwealth’s highway system. While there appears to be consensus that the state requires an additional $965 million annually to bring our current roads and bridges up to acceptable standards, achieving this funding level would only provide for very limited increases in capacity.

“The first step should be to fix the existing highway system,” said Ron Drnevich, PHIA president. “But the existing highway system is carrying far more traffic than it was designed to carry. The opportunity to comprehensively address highway funding issues is not likely to occur again for years. Consequently, it makes sense to include capacity as part of the discussion regarding long-term solutions.”

To view the Executive Summary of the ARTBA report to Congress, go here.