The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) was among five associations representing paving materials and aggregates suppliers to urge the Obama Administration to enact a multi-year surface transportation authorization bill with increased funding for the federal-aid highway and transit program.

In a letter sent to President Barack Obama and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week, the chief executives of ACPA, the National Asphalt Pavement Association; National Ready Mixed Concrete Association; National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association; and the Portland Cement Association, cited poor to mediocre road conditions and road-user delays as compelling reasons to advance the support the quick passage of the legislation.

The ad hoc highway construction materials group also cited the devastating impact of four short-term extensions on the industry. Noting the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ July 2 report that construction unemployment stands at 20.1 percent, the association officials said the construction industry has highest unemployment rate of any industry in the nation.

They also said passage of the legislation is vital to the creation of good American jobs, economic stability, market predictability, and sustaining the gains realized from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Also, they say, two Congressionally-appointed commissions have concluded that the only viable mechanism to fund such a transportation bill is with an increase in the motor fuel tax.