Rep. Peters Calls for Long-Term Funds to Fix Nation’s Roads, Bridges, Ports

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement after passage of H.R. 2353 to extend Highway Trust Fund-financed projects through the end of July.

“I supported today’s short-term extension so that America does not default on projects we’ve already committed to, but these short-term fixes have got to stop. It is long past time for Republicans and Democrats to come together behind a real and enduring plan to fix our nation’s crumbling roads and bridges and to modernize our shipping ports so we can increase growth, overcome wage stagnation, and create jobs,” said Rep. Peters.

Peters said that during the next two months he would be looking hard at several potential paths toward a sustainable Highway Trust Fund, including plans by Republican Congressman Renacci of Ohio and another from Democratic Representative Delaney of Maryland.

“We must have a long-term plan to fully fund the Highway Trust Fund before the July 31 deadline,” Peters stated. “In the next fifteen years, as our economy grows, the demands on highways, ports, and freight-railways will only increase. If we don’t get ahead of this curve, costly gridlock will severely hamper our economic growth.”

Peters continued, “Despite our international competitors making massive investments in their infrastructure programs, here in the United States the Congress continues to demonstrate its inability to provide more than a few months of investment certainty to our communities, construction businesses, and American workers. That’s unacceptable and puts our economy at risk.”

Infrastructure investments have a real, significant economic benefit for individual communities across the country, including San Diego, where bridges, roads, transit and alternative transportation, rail, ports, and freight systems are all in dire need of upgrades.

According to the Department of Transportation, California alone has 24,812 bridges, nearly 17% of which are ‘functionally obsolete,’ and 175,499 miles of public road, of which only 60% have acceptable pavement coverage. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) estimates that by 2030 we will see a 25% increase in vehicle travel and a 64% increase in travel from commercial trucks.

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