Updated resources highlight federal funding impact
By Jack Nicholson
The federal government has committed nearly $180 billion to states for road work and announced close to 84,000 new projects in recent years, according to data included in the latest Federal-Aid Highway Program and Asphalt Market Fact Sheets.
Featuring high-level national data alongside state-by-state breakdowns, these resources show how critical federal funding is to building and repairing U.S. roads and how essential the asphalt pavement industry is to keeping American communities connected.
Produced in partnership with the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the fact sheets are available exclusively to NAPA members.
From nearly 4,000 new projects in Pennsylvania to roughly $1.5 billion in asphalt-related services in Oklahoma to detailed breakdowns of Washington’s largest grants, the state-level guides equip NAPA members with clear, localized data that demonstrate why federal investment matters—and why reauthorizing the surface transportation package this year is essential.
Turning Data into Advocacy
With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act set to expire in just a few months, failure to reauthorize a long-term highway bill would be devastating—for our transportation system, our economy, and our communities.
“Congress must act now on reauthorization to restore the federal government’s proper role as a full partner in building and maintaining a nationally connected roadway system,” Nile Elam, NAPA’s Vice President for Government Affairs, recently wrote in The Washington Times.
As Elam outlines, the economic impact of federal transportation investment is substantial. Each dollar invested returns roughly $5 in economic benefits, and every $1 billion supports about 50,000 jobs, according to the American Public Works Association. That translates to more than $44 billion in economic benefits in Illinois and over 250,000 jobs supported in Tennessee.
“Federal investment in surface infrastructure provides real-world economic impacts and a positive return on investment,” Elam writes.
As Congress considers the next surface transportation bill, these fact sheets give NAPA members another tool to advocate for sustained, robust federal investment. Now is the time to use these resources to engage policymakers and help ensure a strong, long-term commitment to America’s roads.
