Contacts:
Matt Jeanneret 202-289-4434 mjeanneret@artba.org	Joe Manero 202-289-4434 jmanero@artba.org	Print this page

Washington, D.C. [April 10, 2001] - The federal government should ramp up its annual investment for highway-related research and technology programs to the $1 billion per level when the federal surface transportation programs are reauthorized in 2003, American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) President & CEO Pete Ruane said in an April 9 speech.

Ruane delivered his remarks at a seminar sponsored by Iowa State University’s Center for Transportation Research and Education in Ames. His speech was also broadcast via satellite to students at the University of Missouri at Columbia and the University of Northern Iowa.

"Applied research and the implementation of new technologies are crucial to improving the durability and performance of our transportation network," Ruane said.

The association executive said ARTBA and the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) formed a strategic alliance earlier this year to help advance beefed up federal transportation research and technology transfer programs.

ARTBA is advocating a minimum $50 billion per year federal investment in highways in the next reauthorization bill, scheduled for 2003. That is the level of investment a recent U.S. Department of Transportation report suggests is necessary just to maintain current highway and bridge conditions and performance.

Celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2002, ARTBA is the only national organization that exclusively represents the collective interests of all sectors of the U.S. transportation construction industry before the White House, Congress, federal agencies, media and the public.