On Wednesday, American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Chairman Steve McGough urged the Trump administration and Congress to enact a multi-year plan to invest in infrastructure and public transportation and to stabilize state transportation programs.
McGough delivered his remarks during a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) “listening session” led by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Federal Highway Administration Administrator Nicole Nason, and Deputy Highway Administrator Mala Parker. Leaders of both the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America and the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) also delivered remarks during the session.
McGough, who is also the president and CFO of Houston-based HCSS, said continuing to invest in roads, bridges, and public transportation is key to the country’s economic recovery.
“As ARTBA has reported each night since mid-March, nearly all of the nation’s governors have declared transportation construction work as essential,” McGough said. “However, we can only keep operating as long as the resources exist to pay for needed transportation improvements.”
McGough told the transportation department leaders that key elements they could do to help the transportation construction industry included:
• Continuing to explore ways in which virtual public meetings can fulfill requirements for input relating to projects.
• Encouraging FHWA division offices to collaborate with state transportation departments and industry to address project-level issues such as COVID-19 prevention costs and application of price adjustment clauses.
• Allowing states to opt-out of certain guidance provisions for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, which are difficult to follow under current work conditions and unusual letting schedules.
• Finalizing improvements to the hours of service rule to enable more efficient use of personnel on projects.
• Establishing a working group with the Secretary’s office, FHWA, state DOTs, and industry to identify and address all project-related issues.
McGough said movement from the USDOT was needed soon to help the industry, which would help the economy.
“After the Great Recession of 2008, it took eight years—until 2015—for the levels of highway and street construction activity to return to 2007 levels,” McGough said. “If we don’t put a robust infrastructure plan in place soon, the country is going to pay for it and for a long time. In fact, the costs will be far greater than a good highway bill.”
Nason said her department is ready to help transportation partners in any way they can.