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| Funding remains biggest roadblock to solving U.S. congestion crisis Contributing to a lively, growing debate about the future of America's transportation infrastructure, employees at one of America's leading architecture/engineering firms say adequate funding remains the No. 1 challenge. The HNTB Companies recently surveyed its 3,400 employees to better understand professionals' perceptions of America's growing congestion crisis. HNTB's research follows recent recommendations from the congressionally mandated National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. Earlier this year the 12-member board of public and private industry leaders outlined a broad range of potential solutions, including calls for the increased use of public-private partnerships, tolling and congestion pricing, as well as an increase in the federal gas tax and a complete overhaul of the way projects are selected, funded and delivered. Survey respondents said the most important recommendations are the development of a program to fund projects that reduce congestion in America's largest metropolitan areas (89 percent), pass legislation to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund solvent and prevent highway investments from falling below guaranteed levels (87 percent) and remove barriers that prevent states from implementing alternative revenue generating strategies, such as tolling and congestion pricing (70 percent). More than half of U.S. urban interstates are now congested, and it's projected that next year federal Highway Trust Fund revenues will no longer be sufficient to fully fund planned federal transportation spending. The commission stated all levels of government in the United States are spending less than 40 percent of the $225 billion to $340 billion needed. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Construction News :: home page |