Full Title: Infrastructure Investment Creates American Jobs
Author(s): Lukas Brun, G. Jason Jolley, Andrew Hull, and Stacey Frederick
Publisher(s): Duke University: Center Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness
Publication Date: October 1, 2014
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Federal investment in transportation infrastructure can drive employment and boost our national competitiveness. Increased investment in transportation infrastructure will provide jobs in many sectors, including in construction and manufacturing, while addressing the long-term deficiencies in the state of U.S. infrastructure. Businesses depend on a state-of-the-art transportation infrastructure to efficiently transport necessary components and final goods to their destinations. A safe, world-class transportation infrastructure can create new jobs through greater efficiency, increased competitiveness, and more overall demand.
However, Congress and the President continue to delay making long-term, meaningful decisions about investing in our critical infrastructure. In July 2014, Congress approved an $11 billion “patch” to the Highway Trust Fund, effectively postponing any meaningful decisions until May 31, 2015. Unfortunately, this is not a new approach for Congress. After enacting SAFETEA-LU in 2005 (the previous bill authorizing transportation spending), Congress passed nine short-term extensions before finally authorizing MAP-21 in 2012, which budgeted $105 billion for surface transportation investment. That authorization expired in 2014, creating uncertainty for transportation planners and states looking to tackle major projects.