Trade groups urging highway funding fix

WASHINGTON (May 8, 2015) — Two leading transportation advocacy organizations are collaborating on a radio advertising campaign urging Congress to find a permanent solution to replenishing the Highway Trust Fund.

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) are running 30-second spots in states and districts represented by 10 members of the Republican and Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

The ARTBA-APTA radio ads urge Congress to agree on a sustainable, long-term funding source for the Highway Trust Fund. The ads are timed to coincide with the May 31 deadline for Congress to approve a transportation funding bill to succeed the $10.8 billion stopgap bill passed last summer.

“With just weeks to go, congressional leaders have still not reached agreement on a course of action,” ARTBA and APTA said in a joint press release. “The continued uncertainty is causing states to delay or cancel transportation improvement projects.”