Basics

America’s infrastructure is aging rapidly, with a large portion of the nation’s roads in poor or mediocre condition, and thousands of bridges deemed structurally deficient. Surface transportation—our roads, highways, bridges, and public transit systems—forms the backbone of our nation’s economy and daily life, yet it has suffered from decades of underinvestment and delayed maintenance. The federal government plays a vital role in sustaining and modernizing this network through periodic legislation authorizing funding and outlining national priorities.