To rebuild our nation's infrastructure, add a new per-gallon 'user fee' on gasoline

The new year has kicked off with a surging stock market, an upward trending labor market and economic optimism sparked by the first reform of our tax code in three decades. This robust growth must be matched by a next-century national infrastructure. President Trump is showing strong leadership again as he strives to “reclaim our building heritage" with a $1.5 trillion investment to build a next-century national infrastructure.

This couldn't come at a more critical time. The highways, bridges, and waterways that have rapidly deteriorated over many years are in such disrepair that The American Society of Civil Engineers gave America’s infrastructure a dismal D+ on its 2017 report card. It’s costing us dearly—our deficient roadway system alone is costing the average American motorist nearly $1,500 a year in lost time, wasted gas, maintenance, and repairs.

Fortunately, the White House will soon unveil its plan to help rebuild America’s infrastructure. The foremost question will be how to pay for it. In his State of the Union address, President Trump has urged that federal dollars be partnered with state and local government investments. He has also alluded to private sector investments as well. Some policymakers suggest highway toll collection as one path. But the isolated costs of tolling are significantly greater than the cost of collecting other user fees. Furthermore, tolls cause motorists to use alternative routes that are generally less safe and not as well constructed. Congress can look in its own backyard where the toll for driving less than 10 miles one way on I-66 express lanes in Northern Virginia continues to regularly hit rates north of $35, even reaching $46.75 at its peak. One driver stuck in traffic best summed it up in a tweet, #highwayrobbery.

We need a better solution.

Just as the successful tax code overhaul was a bold vision that touched all Americans, we need an infrastructure reform plan that will enlist and rally the country to rebuild our transit systems for the long term. The trucking industry, which represents 7.4 million employees and 1 in 16 U.S. jobs, is ready to step up and invest more in the highway system, so that we can continue to deliver our nation’s freight safely and on time.