The needs of the nation's transportation system are explored, with potential solutions offered to a looming infrastructure crisis in the U.S., in a new report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials titled "Transportation – Invest in Our Future: Future Needs of the U.S. Surface Transportation System." House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar joined officials of AASHTO and two members of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission at the debut of the report.

The report is the first of six being prepared to assist the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. The volume, accessible on the web at http://www.transportation1.org/tif1report, will also be available in hard copy free of charge through the AASHTO bookstore at https://bookstore.transportation.org/item_details.aspx?ID=1001. It was presented to two members of the Commission – Vice-Chairman Jack Schenendorf and member Tom Skancke – during this year's AASHTO Washington Briefing.

"Increased transportation investment will be needed to keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy. Immediate Congressional action will be required to avoid a reduction of $11 billion or more in federal highway assistance in 2009," said AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley.

"Because of skyrocketing construction costs, additional revenues will be needed to enable states, cities and counties to deliver the congestion relief and capacity needed in communities all over America," he said.

The 90-page book outlines and quantifies the needs of the Interstate Highway System, the rest of the U.S. federal-aid road system and rail and bus transit; addresses the coming explosion in freight carriage by truck and rail, nationwide; explores demographic trends that will drive much transportation demand in coming years; and recommends steps that can be taken to provide needed transportation services.

It also offers numerous "success stories" of excellence in project construction, as an inspiration to and a template for organizations that may not have tried such approaches yet.

"The commission has welcomed testimony from state DOTs in many of its forums and hearings, and it is in response to their request for information that this report is being provided," Horsley said.

Among the report's findings:

• Although the U.S. population grew by 130 million people between 1955 – when the Interstate Highway system was being debated – and 2005, the national population is expected to rise by an even greater number – by 140 million – over the next 50 years.
• Vehicles on U.S. highways have gone up from 65 million cars and trucks in 1955 to 246 million today – and that number could rise to nearly 400 million by the year 2055.
• To fund what is needed, all levels of government will have to continue to do their part.