Ruane says the finding in the Texas Transportation Institute report that America’s transportation network is “more unreliable isn’t a surprise to the millions of motorists who slog through bumper-to-bumper traffic in cities of all sizes, or to the businesses attempting to move their goods and services.”

However, the real news is the projection that traffic congestion costs will balloon another 65 percent by 2020 if the status quo is maintained. “The number of hours of lost time will also skyrocket 55 percent,” Ruane says.

“While we may have to accept deadlocked politicians, there are ways to get Americans moving again,” he adds. “Robust new investments aimed at creating additional highway and public transit capacity, and providing more travel options, could help accelerate economic recovery and better prepare the nation for the 21st century mobility challenges that come with it.”

The full report in a PDF format can be accessed at http://www.aednet.org/government/pdf-2013/WM-HTF-Report.pdf.