While federal highway funding has reached one state stasis, American Road & Transportation Builders Association is continuing the push for a six-year $375-billion needs-based reauthorization bill and wont settle for political expediency.
The Washington, D.C.-based group wants the right reauthorization bill and that means adequate funding. But in an election year and faced with tight federal and state budgets, it may have to settle for a $299-billion minimum. Still, it continues to mobilize grass roots efforts for passage of a TEA-21 reauthorization bill that it hopes will significantly grow the construction market. That was the main message from incoming ARTBA chairman Richard E. Wagman at ARTBAs annual convention Sept. 8-11 in Boston.