Reston, Va. – The following is a statement from Randall (Randy) S. Over, P.E., F.ASCE, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s report issued yesterday on the future of the Highway Trust Fund:
“The report issued this week by the U.S. Department of Transportation outlines an ominous picture for the Highway Trust Fund and is not good news for America.
“We’re at a critical crossroad. Projections indicating that the Highway Trust Fund will now become insolvent by the end of August, underscore ASCE’s sense of urgency that Congress must act now to find long-term sustainable funding for the nation’s transportation system.
“ASCE’s economic reports have found that our deteriorating transportation infrastructure will cost the American economy more than 876,000 jobs and suppress the growth of our GDP by $897 billion by the year 2020. Furthermore, the nation’s surface transportation systems are facing a funding gap of about $94 billion a year with our current spending levels.
“As more and more states are forced to put crucial transportation projects on hold due to the uncertainty of federal funds, the nation’s surface transportation will continue to deteriorate, causing a negative ripple effect throughout our economy. Roads and bridges won’t be maintained, businesses will suffer and jobs will be lost.
“ASCE urges Congress to take immediate action to identify long-term revenue solutions for the Highway Trust Fund to avert this impending crisis.”
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 145,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, graded America’s cumulative GPA for infrastructure at a D+. The Report Card app for Apple and Android devices includes videos, interactive maps and info-graphics that tell the story behind the grades, as well as key facts for all 50 states. For more information, visit www.asce.org and follow us on Twitter, @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.