U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will travel across the country beginning April 14 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 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.
As he travels through eight states, beginning in Columbus, Ohio, and ending in Dallas, Foxx will make 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.”
On February 26, Foxx joined Obama to announce a plan to address the infrastructure deficit with a $302 billion, four-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal. The plan 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, Foxx and 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.
Secretary Foxx’s tour will include visits to manufacturers, bridges, freight facilities, and highway projects in an effort to raise awareness of America’s infrastructure deficit. Secretary Foxx will visit with business leaders, stakeholders and members of communities to discuss the projects that work, projects that are needed and to ask them to commit to a future with an American transportation system that’s second-to-none.
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 the nation’s infrastructure will cost businesses more than $1 trillion every year in lost sales. Despite this growing need, the Highway Trust Fund is on track to start bouncing checks as early as August.
To follow the trip’s progress, click here.
