As the Senate adjourns for August recess, the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) released a new statement on recent national public opinion data that shows Americans are experiencing the consequences of aging infrastructure, congestion, and project delays firsthand, and want Congress to keep critical transportation investments moving.

“Members of Congress will spend their August recess hearing from communities that rely on safe roads, reliable bridges and modern transit systems every day,” said the Transportation Construction Coalition. “Americans want Congress to protect current transportation investments, keep projects moving and pass a strong, long-term transportation bill on time. Delays cost families time and money, create uncertainty for states and communities, and make needed improvements harder and more expensive to deliver.”

The first survey, a nationwide Morning Consult public opinion poll, released with the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) in July, found that nearly one-third of Americans have suffered vehicle damage because of potholes or poor road surfaces, and 43 percent say traffic congestion in their community is “poor” or “very poor.”

The second national survey, released in June from Narrative Strategies and The 535, found that 86 percent of voters consider delays in bridge safety repairs a serious problem, while 80 percent say delays in road upgrades are a serious problem. More than half, 51 percent, are aware of major road, bridge or transportation projects that have been delayed.

“The data confirms what lawmakers will see across their states and districts this month. Americans are paying the price for delayed transportation investments and the growing backlog of infrastructure upgrades,” the coalition continued. “Whether it’s damage from deteriorating roads, time lost in traffic, or freight bottlenecks that increase costs at the grocery store, Americans already see the costs of further delay.”

This week, the Senate voted to extend the 2021 transportation funding law until December 11. The stopgap would avoid a lapse in authorization, but states and communities need longer-term certainty to plan and deliver projects. Meanwhile, the Morning Consult/AGC poll shows strong public support for continued, sustained federal transportation investments:

  • 78 percent say it’s a national priority for Congress to pass a new federal highway, bridge and transit funding law before the current law expires. In comparison, 81 percent say passing the law on time should be a priority.
  • 77 percent support record federal funding to repair and replace aging bridges.
  • 80 percent want to see as much transportation funding as the current law.

The coalition is urging Congress to return from the August recess prepared to complete a bipartisan, multi-year surface transportation bill before the current bill expires. The coalition is advocating for a strong transportation bill to maintain current investment levels, account for rising construction costs, and keep America’s transportation networks connected, competitive, and moving forward.