The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has begun a new public outreach campaign in March 2020 entitled “The Benefits of Transportation: The Solutions State DOTs Bring to People & Their Communities”.
This new national campaign is designed to increase public awareness about the many benefits transportation investment provides through use of an interactive map which links visitors to transportation projects across the country that are reducing travel times, improving safety, protecting the environment, and boosting the economy.
Jim Tymon, Executive Director-AASHTO said in a statement, “The professionals working at state departments of transportation know these benefits first-hand because they’re responsible for planning, designing, and building the transportation projects that keep America moving by car, truck, rail, bus, and bicycle. This year will be pivotal for transportation because Congress must pass a new surface transportation bill before the current law expires at the end of September. The purpose of this campaign, website, and report are to help citizens understand the important connection between transportation investment and the benefits we experience today and into the future.”
According to AASHTO, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimated that each dollar spent on road, highway, and bridge improvements results in an average benefit of $5.20 in the form of reduced vehicle maintenance costs, reduced delays, reduced fuel consumption, improved safety, reduced road and bridge maintenance costs, and reduced emissions as a result of improved traffic flow.
Similarly, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) estimates that the total long-term economic effect of “enhanced investment” in transit systems sustained over 20 years is in the range of 3.7 times the amount being spent annually.
Please click on links below for more information:
Interactive MAP: www.benefits.transportation.org
AASHTO Journal “Benefits of Transportation” webpage: Please click on the image to the right, or go to: https://aashtojournal.org/2020/03/13/aashto-launches-benefits-of-transportation-campaign/
Roads and Bridges Online Magazine article titled “AASHTO Campaign Seeks to Show Nationwide Benefits of Transportation Investment”:www.roadsbridges.com/aashto-campaign-seeks-show-nationwide-benefits-transportation-investment?oly_enc_id=7910G7563589A6R
AASHTO link titled “AASHTO Campaign Links Greater Transportation Investment To Nationwide Benefits”: www.aashtonews.wpengine.com/2020/03/03/aashto-campaign-links-greater-transportation-investment-to-nationwide-benefits/