The aftermath of the tough, often divisive election has raised many policy questions yet unanswered, but one thing that President-elect Trump and his opponent agreed on was the need to improve the nation’s infrastructure.
We employ nearly 10,000 drivers who traverse our nation’s highways, interstates, and major state roads 365 days each year. We know first-hand that our roads, bridges, and tunnels are in a state of disrepair, sometimes so dangerous as to be life-threatening.
The commercial cost to the taxpayer in form of slower deliveries, higher prices, and inefficient logistics is considerable — and getting worse each year.
America craves an economy that is productive, growing, and beneficial to all. Achieving that goal demands an investment in infrastructure development. That is the kind of investment that pays short-term and long-term dividends in job creation, business efficiency, and ease of mobility, not just for commercial interests but for the motoring public.
The cost of such a commitment is expensive — up to $1 trillion over a decade. But adjusting the tax code to incentivize private investors can provide a benefit that citizens in every state will reap. Every good and service that the American consumer enjoys travels, at some point, on our highways via trucks. Delivering those goods and services efficiently and effectively over a refurbished highway, bridge and road system is an investment that will employ hundreds of thousands of workers, provide a boost for commerce, and ensure that America’s economy maintains its competitive edge for years to come.