Sometimes we forget how dependent we are on our transportation network.  More than 95 percent of workers have a commute that involves roads, rails, sidewalks or other infrastructure.  For every commuting trip, there are five non-work-related trips.  Even the “local” vegetables at the grocery or farmer’s market are generally brought in by truck.  We rely on this system for our economy and growing population, yet investment in our nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems has not kept pace.  That is why a sizable portion of the proposed $825 billion stimulus package should be used to begin the task of resurrecting our transportation system which was once the envy of the world but is now crumbling like aqueducts of ancient Rome. 

That is why AAA Arizona is calling on our state’s Congressional delegations to back the federal stimulus plan, which will also invest in the nation’s long-neglected transportation system.  This investment will create jobs in the short term and provide the foundation for economic growth and a better quality of life in the longer term.  In fact, the Federal Highway Administration estimates that nearly 30,000 jobs are supported by every $1 billion invested in transportation projects.  The President and Congressional leaders have told the nation they intend to use part of the stimulus package to upgrade roads, bridges and other infrastructure.  A sizable share of the overall stimulus package should be dedicated to transportation improvements, particularly those that will contribute a lasting return on investment long after the last shovel of dirt is turned.    

Like most Americans, AAA wants taxpayer dollars set aside for the stimulus package to have the biggest impact possible on the nation’s economic recovery.  That is why oversight and accountability must be major components of the final proposal.  And, it is why we encourage Congress, the White House, and state and local governments to ensure that all resources spent on transportation be spent on projects that will not only create jobs in the short term, but also make a real difference in terms of safety, congestion relief and system efficiency.  This is no time for passing pet projects that make good press releases but do little for the public good. 

It is essential that Arizona is in line to receive necessary funding from the economic stimulus package.  Funding for transportation projects can provide a much needed “shot in the arm” for the economy and begin to address the terrific backlog of transportation needs in our state and across the country.  Even with the stimulus package, we will still face critical decisions about the long-term transportation funding needs of the nation.  That longer-term investment will require commitment to a new transportation vision that abandons the status quo and re-evaluates existing programs and approaches.

James McDowell

Chief Executive Officer

AAA Arizona