Environmental Issues: Transportation

Throughout history, America has built some of the world's best roads, bridges and railways, offering people freedom to travel, do business and enjoy a quality of life unsurpassed in most of the world. For decades, our infrastructure has worked so well that it was taken for granted. Today, however, years of neglected repairs, a harmful dependence on oil and a broken funding system have left our nation's transportation infrastructure in desperate need of an overhaul.

Fix It First

Chronic underinvestment in repair work is crippling our roads and rail networks. Between 1989 and 2003, 500 bridges collapsed in America, and today, nearly 8,000 bridges are in a state of disrepair. The state of California alone is losing an estimated $15 billion or more each year due to neglected and underfunded infrastructure repair. When making funding decisions, states and the federal government should prioritize fixing what's broken instead of building bridges to nowhere.

Invest in Oil-Saving Transit Solutions

Our transportation system was built in the days of cheap, easy oil. Now we are shackled to a polluting fuel source whose supply is controlled by unfriendly or unstable nations. Our new infrastructure can help break our oil addiction by helping create more and better ways to get around, whether it's improved and expanded public transit; charging stations for electric cars; smart traffic technology; or communities where people can walk or bike to shops, schools and work.

Get the Most Bang for Taxpayer Bucks

Many transportation investments are made based on political expedience, via earmarks, rather than merit. A federal infrastructure bank could help eliminate waste and attract private-sector funding by making merit and performance-based loans. Investments in public transit and repairs tend to have higher rates of return than new highway construction – that's where we can best put taxpayer dollars to work.

Taking action now to revamp our transportation infrastructure will keep us safer at home and more successful abroad. Congress must work with state and local governments, as well as the private sector, to make infrastructure investment a priority. Continuing to neglect this vital backbone of our economy would be shortchanging ourselves, our children, and our country's future.

last revised 4/27/2011