(February 23, 2017) - According to February 16 coverage from Fleet Owner, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) recently released a report that determined nearly 56,000 of U.S. roadway bridges were structurally compromised.
Analyzing the Department of Transportation’s Bridge Inventory database, the industry advocate group found that, if placed end-to-end, the nation’s deficient bridges would span roughly 1,276 miles, or half the distance from New York to Los Angeles.
“The report’s key takeaway and the most important thing to focus on is that 1,900 bridges on the national highway freight network are structurally deficient,” stated ARTBA Chief Economist Alison Premo Black. “That’s America’s ‘economic expressway.’ Bridge failures or restrictions on that 66,000 mile network should not be an option.”
At the current rate of repair, only a 0.5% decrease since 2015, ARTBA calculates it would take over two decades to replace or repair all structurally deficient bridges.
Read ARTBA’s full report here, or follow-up on Fleet Owner’s coverage and bridge slideshow here.
ATA TASK FORCE URGES CONGRESSIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE
(February 23, 2017) - According to a February 8 news release, the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) Infrastructure Task Force met with congressional leaders and the new Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao, in an effort to urge Washington to make an immediate and long-term commitment to infrastructure spending that addresses the country’s critical need for highway and bridge redevelopment.
“This group of industry leaders came to Washington to discuss the importance of building a modern transportation system to ensure America’s continuing competitiveness,” said ATA President Chris Spear. “Our nation and economy depend on good, safe, and efficient roads and bridges, and that now is the time to address those needs.”
ATA developed the task force following the 2017 presidential election with the intent of capitalizing on the Trump administration’s plans to invest in infrastructure. This was the first time the eleven CEO-level trucking industry executives that make-up the group met with Washington leaders.
Read the ATA’s full report on their website here.