October 22, 2007 5:35 PM CDT

AGC Supports Fee Increase to Address Infrastructure Crisis

By Masonry

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has submitted a statement of support for the National Highway System Bridge Reconstruction Initiative that includes a potential increase to the federal excise on gasoline, which continues to be the fairest and most reliable and easily administered user fee.

"This targeted, nationwide bridge reconstruction program is an appropriate response to the tragic collapse of a span of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis and to our country's pressing needs," says AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr.

Twelve percent, or about 72,000, of the nation's bridges are classified as "structurally deficient." Bridges are one component of the nation's transportation network that supports our $14 trillion economy; other system needs exist and require solutions to address a variety of mobility challenges.

"We face a looming infrastructure crisis in this country, which involves all modes of infrastructure from surface transportation to aviation, from water infrastructure and flood control to navigation," says Sandherr. "The National Highway System Bridge Reconstruction Initiative is an important first step toward fixing the long-term neglect of our nation's aging and deteriorating infrastructure."

In its support for increasing investment in transportation infrastructure and a potential increase in the federal excise on gasoline, AGC recommends that it be indexed to account for the expected inflation in construction costs that will diminish the purchasing power of this funding increase in the future.

"Indexing this user fee to account for inflation will help our country avoid future catastrophes," Sandherr says.

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About the Author

Masonry, the official publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America, covers every aspect of the mason contractor profession - equipment and techniques, building codes and standards, business planning, promoting your business, legal issues and more. Read or subscribe to Masonry magazine at www.masonrymagazine.com.