The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them, released the following statement today reacting to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) release of its 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure grading America’s infrastructure a C-.
“We salute ASCE and its members for their continued efforts to sound the alarm about the fragile state of America’s infrastructure. ASCE’s latest report card underscores how critical it is to invest in our nation’s infrastructure to emerge much stronger from the pandemic. The nearly 6,400 miles of tolled roads, tunnels and bridges in America are among the safest in the world precisely because we invest in regular maintenance and capital improvements. The report card provides a roadmap to Congress as they take action on a stimulus bill and draft the next transportation reauthorization legislation. We must find a way to pay for our major infrastructure and we know that tolling is a powerful and effective tool to help states do just that,” said Mark Compton, President, IBTTA and CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
This important and well-respected quadrennial assessment grades the condition and performance of 17 categories of infrastructure – including roads, bridges, transit, ports, aviation, and for the first time, stormwater. ASCE’s 2021 Infrastructure Report Card gives a grade of C- to our overall infrastructure, a C for bridges, and a D for roads.
“IBTTA is asking the Biden Administration and Congress to allow states to use tolling to rebuild their interstate highways, advance a national road user charging system, and enhance federal financing programs such as the TIFIA program,” said Patrick Jones, Executive Director and CEO, IBTTA.
“IBTTA and our members stand ready to work with the Biden Administration, Congress and Secretary Buttigieg to Build Back Better by investing in our infrastructure, strengthening our economy, and improving the lives of all Americans as we move out of the year-long pandemic,” Jones said.
To speak with Mark Compton, Patrick Jones or for more information about IBTTA, please contact Bill Cramer, Communications Director at bcramer@ibtta.org or 202-210-2962 (mobile) or visit www.IBTTA.org.
