Granite Construction CEO Presses Congress on Transportation Funding

CEO James H. Roberts urges Congress and the Administration to work together to increase user fees and identify new revenue sources to meet transportation needs, now and in the future

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Granite Construction CEO James H. Roberts testified before a Congressional committee last week on the importance of increased investment in transportation.

Roberts, in an appearance July 24 before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said "Congress and the (Obama) Administration must work together in a bipartisan way to increase user fees and identify new revenue sources to address our transportation needs, both now and in the future."

"There must be more private-sector involvement in the construction of transportation projects, including the public-private Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program," he said. "This has a proven record of accomplishing this objective."

Click HERE to view the hearing and read the transcripts.

Roberts' testimony was part of a flurry of activity in Washington, D.C., on transportation funding issues. President Obama, with his new transportation secretary in tow, Anthony Foxx, traveled to Florida to tout infrastructure funding at a Florida port, but provided scant details.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., also released a forecast showing millions of jobs in jeopardy if the TIFIA program is not fully implemented. The projection included a loss of $4.5 billion and an estimated 163,000 jobs in California. "We're here sounding a wake-up call," she said. Click HERE for the state-by-state breakdown.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. Federal Department of Transportation funding runs out in 64 days, and the nation's surface transportation policy bill expires in 429 days. The National Asphalt Pavement Association will be putting on a Washington, D.C. "Fly-in" on Sept. 11-12, and CalAPA will be coordinating appointments with California's congressional delegation. Click HERE to learn more, or contact Russell Snyder at (916) 791-5044.

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