ACEC Supports Lawmakers’ Push for $50 Billion Federal Highway Funding to State DOTs

Advocacy / Infrastructure Funding

May 11, 2020

ACEC Supports Lawmakers’ Push for $50 Billion Federal Highway Funding to State DOTs

As House and Senate members continue discussions over additional legislation to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, ACEC is actively supporting a move to include a $50 billion infusion to State Departments of Transportation (DOTs). 

The federal highway funds would backstop a projected 30 percent revenue decline over the next 18 months and mitigate additional project cancellations and postponements.  Vehicle traffic has declined by 50 percent in most parts of the country due to work and travel restrictions, causing steep drops in state motor fuel tax and toll receipts and severely impacting state transportation budgets.
 
Today 137 House members wrote a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy in support of the request, led by Representatives Conor Lamb (D-PA) and Bob Gibbs (R-OH). 

“Supporting state DOTs now will enable the advancement of planned transportation projects in the near-term and allow state DOT employees and transportation construction workers essential to planning and delivering these projects to remain on the job,” the lawmakers wrote. 

ACEC contacted every Member of Congress in support of the sign-on letter.

The effort is one component of the Council’s Rescue/Recover/Rebuild advocacy agenda.

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