Building on Progress: Sustaining Transportation Funding for the Future

The U.S. transportation network is the backbone of our economy. Yet years of underinvestment have left our roads, bridges, and ports outdated and inefficient. Recent reauthorization efforts have increased funding and expanded programs, marking a critical step toward restoring our infrastructure. However, this progress is fragile. To ensure continued improvement, the next reauthorization must maintain funding levels and drive progress in modernizing and strengthening our transportation infrastructure.

Incremental Progress, Persistent Challenges

The current state of American infrastructure is mediocre, at best. In 2025, the American Society for Civil Engineers upgraded its rankings of our infrastructure from 2021 – roads improved from a “D” to a “D+”, bridges from a “C+” to a “C”, and transit systems from a “D-” to a “D”. While these modest improvements reflect progress, substantial work remains. Without consistent investment, project backlogs will outpace progress, leaving our transportation network ill-equipped to support businesses and commuters.

The Need for Predictability

From design through construction, standard surface transportation projects can take years to complete. State and local governments need funding certainty to strategically prioritize major initiatives such as bridge replacements, highway expansions, safety improvements, and technology upgrades. Short-term funding extensions can lead to project delays, increasing costs, and stalling efficiency improvements.

The business community equally depends on this predictability. Contractors must plan resource allocation and workforce deployment. Companies reliant on inadequate logistics networks must plan for delays and congestion in their operations. Congress should ensure our infrastructure promotes economic growth, not prevent it.

Economic Benefits of Investment

Infrastructure investment is an economic multiplier. It creates jobs, reduces commute times, and improves efficiency. According to the American Society for Civil Engineers’ 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, adequate funding could inject $550 billion into the economy over the next decade, adding $700 annually to household budgets over 20 years. Conversely, cutting funding risks an estimated $1 trillion in lost economic output by American businesses. They will still produce goods, but at a reduced scale. Without sustained investment, we risk backsliding on our recent progress.

A Call for Commitment

Maintaining current funding levels is essential to meet the growing demands on our nation’s transportation network. Reliable funding creates reliable infrastructure. We urge Congress to uphold its commitment and continue investing in our future. Cutting back now would stall the momentum we've worked so hard to achieve.

About the author

Amanda Mays