Secretary Buttigieg to Engineering Leaders: “We Can’t Do This Without You”

The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is a “once in a lifetime investment opportunity in transportation that we must get right,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told an audience of engineering firm leaders at the ACEC Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. today.

“But we can’t do it without your help,” he said.

Buttigieg mentioned the Sunday collapsed section of I-95 and how highway industry stakeholders, including engineers, will scramble to make needed repairs on the primary East Coast, North-South highway artery as soon as possible.

He predicted despite decades of infrastructure underinvestment, the historic funding opportunity now presented by IIJA will also challenge the productiveness of America. “On time, on task, on budget, that’s our goal,” he emphasized.  “And so much of that success will depend on you.”

He noted that 70,000 road projects and 4,600 bridge projects are currently underway throughout the nation because of IIJA, and there’s more to come.

Before concluding his brief speech he emphasized, “There’s never been a better time to be involved with transportation infrastructure.”