Transportation Dept. says funding vital to building the future of the US

Many experts agree that the U.S. needs to upgrade its transportation infrastructure that's in disrepair and even replace roads and bridges that are hopelessly decrepit.

Outdated infrastructure results in waiting in traffic or for buses and trains. The U.S. is striving to meet the needs of its residents, as in the next 30 years there will be 70 million more people in the U.S. using infrastructure on a daily basis.

Highways, bridges, public transportation and freight systems are facing increasing challenges, with an estimated 45 percent growth in freight volume expected over the next 30 years.

Most decisions about infrastructure are made on the local and state levels based on funding levels from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Department officials, however, say they no longer have the resources to meet growing infrastructure needs, noting it has been 10 years since Congress last passed a long-term transportation funding authorization bill. Because of these delays, much planning and design time has been lost as projects stall.

Transportation Department officials encourage Congress to make a long-term infrastructure bill that will authorize funds for infrastructure projects.