The report, "Well Within Reach: America's New Transportation Agenda," highlights 10 recommendations on how to improve America's roads and bridges. They were put together by a group of industry experts during a conference last year and just now compiled into a report.

Last year's gathering was led by former U.S. transportation secretaries Norman Mineta and Samuel Skinner. During a Monday press conference in Washington, both men expressed optimism about the future of the transportation industry, but only if Congress steps up soon and makes a major investment in infrastructure.

"Transportation policy is so important for this country," Mineta said. "It is the basis, the foundation of everything that happens. We must continue to push the transportation agenda in terms of its role in expanding the economy."

The underlying message of the report is that without improved transportation infrastructure across the country, the ability to move people and goods will be negatively affected. That would make it more difficult for the United States to compete with the rest of the world.

"An integrated, well-funded transportation system is essential to our nation," said Gerald Baliles, director of the Miller Center, who also appeared at the press conference. "If a society cannot move its products and people, it cannot compete."

Both Mineta and Skinner stressed that Congress must consider introducing a vehicle miles traveled fee to replace the current gas tax, which they described as becoming obsolete. Drivers would pay a usage fee calculated by how far they travel, replacing a system that is based off fossil fuels and is bringing in less money as cars become more fuel efficient.

"We need to invest in some new technology," Skinner said in an interview with AASHTO's Transportation TV. "We have to figure out how we can get this [VMT tax] system working, and there is new technology out there that can help us do that."

Former Transportation Secretaries Weigh In on State of Industry

Acquiring more funding for transportation has been put on the backburner as Congress addresses what are perceived by the public as more pressing issues such as healthcare and the economy, Mineta and Skinner observed. The pair praised the progress President Barack Obama has made with transportation funding, applauding the work he's done to bring mobility issues into public view. Obama most recently proposed a $50 billion frontloaded surface transportation reauthorization bill during a Labor Day speech in Milwaukee. (see Sept. 10 AASHTO Journal story)

"The trouble is there are other subject matters that really detract from focus on infrastructure," Mineta told Transportation TV. "The president has without a doubt brought more attention to transportation, though. I just wish Congress would get the transportation bills completed."

Both men said the most important next step to getting a long-term reauthorization bill passed is to work on increasing the public's awareness regarding the serious needs for transportation infrastructure repair and expansion.

"We still have a way to go to fix our infrastructure problems," Skinner told Transportation TV. "We need to look for opportunities to educate the American people, and we need the country's leadership to step forward at the right time."

The 92-page report and more information are available at bit.ly/Miller100610.