ACPA Concrete Pavement Progress Quarter 3 2020

Concrete Pavement Progress www.acpa.org 4 AS WE ALL STRIVE TO STAY HEALTHY AND WORK under the pall of the coronavirus pandemic, TRIP has shifted program tactics to react to the current situation and provide our industry partners with research data and information that can be used in promoting greater surface transportation infrastructure investment. With the nation’s ability to provide needed transpor- tation improvements threatened by a significant decrease in user fees and other transportation revenues due to reduced vehicle travel as a result of the pandemic, TRIP’s focus is on educating the public and policymakers of the importance of transportation investment in supporting economic growth and recovery. TRIP’s updated national and state factsheets provide valuable data and information that can be shared on social media and with elected officials and policymakers at all levels of government. Prior to the pandemic, traffic congestion was costing motorists $166 billion annually in lost time and wasted fuel; driving on rough roads cost motorists $130 billion annually—$603 per driver—in the form of additional repairs, accelerated vehicle depreciation, and increased fuel consumption and tire wear, and traffic fatalities cost approximately $103 billion annually in economic costs in crashes where the lack of adequate roadway safety features was a contribut- ing factor. According to a 2019 report submitted to Congress by the United States Department of Transportation, the U.S. faced a $786 billion backlog in needed repairs and improvements to its roads, highways, and bridges. TRIP’s recently released national rural roads report highlights the need to improve the condi- tion and safety of rural roads, highways, and bridges that connect the nation’s primary source of energy, food, and fiber, particularly at a time when responding to the pandemic heightens the need for the nation’s rural communities to have reliable and safe access. TRIP also released a national Interstate Highway System report that publicized current Interstate conditions and needs, and the importance of investing in this important transportation system in helping the nation emerge from the economic devastation caused by the pandemic. We also made the case for greater state funding through the release of TRIP’s customized state reports. Now, and for decades, ACPA and its members have been valuable partners helping to underwrite TRIP communications efforts informing the public and policymakers of the importance of surface transportation investment to the economy, safety, and quality of life of all Americans. You can help TRIP expand its efforts promoting greater surface transportation infrastructure investment with a tax-deductible contribution. Mail your contribution to TRIP, 3000Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 208, Washington, DC 20008. If you prefer to contribute by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover), please contact Lisa Templeton at templeton@tripnet.org . TRIP is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit and contributions are tax-deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. TRIP’s Federal ID is 52-0941402. David Kearby is the executive director of TRIP—a National Transportation Research Nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining TRIP, Dave was involved in construction and transportation issues in Washington State with the AGC of Washington and as Chairperson for TRANS-Action, a regional transportation partnership. To find out about TRIP’s efforts in your state, go to tripnet.org or contact Dave at kearby@tripnet.org or 202-466-6706. Follow TRIP on Twitter: @TRIP_Inc, Linkedin: TRIPtransportationresearch and Facebook: @TRIPtransportationresearch. TRIP Focusing Ef for ts on Federal Transpor tation Funding David Kearby, TRIP Executive Director Editor’s Note: Beginning with this issue of CONCRETE PAVEMENT PROGRESS, we will be presenting guest editorials from leading officials from industry, the public sector, and academia.