Travelers, truckers, commuters, cyclists -- anyone who uses the nation's transportation network -- are invited to share their transportation comments and concerns using AASHTO's Facebook and YouTube pages. Start by visiting www.transportation.org/IToldCongress.

"What better time than now, during the first month of the new Congress, to tell members what Americans need and want when it comes to transportation?" said John Horsley, AASHTO executive director. "We expect Congress to draft new legislation this year that will set transportation policy and funding levels for years to come. It is AASHTO's goal to help Congress understand the priorities of the American people."

Horsley was joined Wednesday morning by leaders of the Associated General Contractors of America and the American Public Transportation Association at Washington's Union Station to launch the effort. The campaign is designed to give America's transportation users a voice in the debate about how to fund and shape the nation's federal highway and transit programs.

"We need Congress to know how important it is to pass a long-term highway and transit bill this year," Horsley said during the kickoff event outside one of the nation's busiest train stations, which is only blocks from the U.S. Capitol. "Members need to hear from commuters about how important this is to the economic recovery."

APTA Vice President Art Guzzetti noted 35 million trips are made on mass transit each workday in America.

"Every person representing one of those trips has a story to tell," he said. "Those are the kind of stories we want to tell through this campaign."

Brian Turmail, AGC's senior director of public affairs, noted that while 5% of construction companies are directly involved in transportation building, 100% of them depend on an efficient transportation system for the prosperity of their business.

"Our members are telling us that congestion, unreliable shipping schedules, and aging roads are adding to their costs of doing business by an estimated $20 billion per year," he said. "Our members are anxious to share their stories about how congestion and unreliable transportation systems are affecting their ability to build a new economy."

During the six-week campaign, people can use AASHTO's Facebook page to post YouTube videos and written comments about their transportation priorities, ideas, and personal stories. Already a number of people have weighed in with their concerns from traffic congestion and safety to high-speed rail and job creation through greater investment in transportation projects.

"We want to encourage everyone to join us," Horsley said. "Our goal is to build support for greater investment in all transportation modes. When you consider that in just a few decades, 400 million people will be living in the U.S. and using our transportation systems, there's no time to waste."

AASHTO's view is that the next transportation bill must take a balanced approach that will:

• Invest in both highways and transit;
• Address the needs of metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas; and
• Meet preservation and modernization needs while allowing states to expand capacity where needed to meet population, freight, and economic growth.

AASHTO will continue the campaign through February. Videos and comments will be compiled to present to key federal officials in March, prior to the expiration of the latest extension of the highway and transit legislation.

In a separate effort, APTA and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association launched an advertising campaign this week featuring a woman behind a steering wheel with an immediately recognizable look of frustration on her face. "GRIDLOCK," states the ad. The ad calls on President Barack Obama and Congress to "get America moving again" by passing a long-term transportation reauthorization bill.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said this week in Atlanta that he is confident a reauthorization measure can reach the president's desk by August. (see related story)