Is repair actually a priority?

Our upcoming report sheds light on how much states are spending on repair vs. new roads and how policy can get the nation back on track

Earlier this week, President Trump, House Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Schumer met to discuss funding levels for a yet undefined infrastructure plan.

We don't know what the plan will fund or build, what problems it’s trying to solve, or how we will measure its success—if at all—but politicians have somehow already settled on a $2 trillion price tag.

This is the standard practice on Capitol Hill when it comes to infrastructure, and we believe it’s time for a change.

Much of the rhetoric around this mythical infrastructure plan has focused on "repairing our crumbling roads and bridges." But if past decisions are the best predictor of future behavior then much of any extra transportation spending will likely be squandered on building and expanding roads rather than repairing them—as we show in our forthcoming report, Repair Priorities 2019.

Repair Priorities 2019 will be released during Infrastructure Week on Tuesday, May 14. Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, May 15 at 3 p.m. ET for a closer look at the findings.

Despite the growing maintenance backlog, states have continued to spend a significant portion of funding to build new roads. Repair Priorities 2019 provides a national snapshot and state-by-state evaluation of current roadway pavement conditions, spending trends, and unmet needs. It also recommends crucial actions federal policymakers should take in the next transportation reauthorization bill to get the nation’s roads—and spending priorities—back on track.

As we have said repeatedly, when it comes to infrastructure we don't have funding problem, we have a policy problem. But policy makers are still putting the cart before the horse, jumping straight to how much of our money they need before telling us why or what we’re going to get for it in the end. Repair Priorities will help make the case for policy change using the government's own data.

Register for the webinar on Wednesday, May 15 at 3 p.m. ET.

In related news, our colleagues at the National Complete Streets Coalition are releasing their report—The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2018—next week on May 8. The report evaluates and ranks Complete Streets policies that were passed last year with a special emphasis on implementation and equity. Register for their webinar about the report on Thursday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

What should Congress do to help rebuild infrastructure in America?

On the morning of Tuesday May 14, the day Repair Priorities is released, Transportation for America Director Beth Osborne will be previewing the findings while speaking at the P3 Policy and Delivery Leaders Summit, an infrastructure conference in Washington, DC focused on public-private partnerships (aka P3s). Beth will be using use this new report to make the case for reform while speaking on her panel, What should Congress do to help rebuild infrastructure in America.

If you are in or near Washington, DC, Transportation for America supporters can get an exclusive 20 percent discount for using code P3T420.

Buy your ticket to the conference here.