Our nation faces no shortage of crises—real or imagined—at the dawn of this new century. Anyone with an ax to grind or an agenda to push characterizes their issue as a "crisis" that requires immediate attention and usually lots of money. The term is so overused it's almost become meaningless. But real challenges exist that, if not met, will have profound impacts on the quality of our lives and our ability to compete in a global economy. Transportation infrastructure is one of them.

I'll be the first to admit, this isn't a sexy topic that captures the imagination of the public or Congress, but it is a critical one. It goes straight to the heart of what every American cares about deeply—getting from point A to point B with minimum hassle and cost. Of course, businesses and consumers have an enormous stake in the efficient flow of goods around the world.

What are we up against? Take roads and bridges, for example. I could bore you with reams of statistics about the poor quality of our roads, capacity constraints, rising freight traffic, etc. But I'll simply ask you this: Have you been stuck in traffic lately? Have you hit a pothole? Have you seen chunks of concrete missing from bridge abutments? Is there traffic on roads that used to be less traveled, and at more times during the day? Unless you live in the most rural parts of our country, I would bet your answer is yes.

And how about our aviation system? Have a flight delayed lately? Worried about "close calls" on the runways? Read about the impending shortage of air traffic controllers? Our aviation infrastructure is becoming as antiquated as our roads and bridges, with the same dire implications for productivity, safety, and competitiveness.

One of the least discussed aspects of our transportation crisis is the status of our ports. Here a key statistic is telling. By 2020, every major U.S. container port is projected to at least double the volume of cargo it was designed to handle, with select East Coast ports tripling in volume and some West Coast ports quadrupling in volume. How will we handle the increase while balancing the need for security with the need for the quick, efficient movement of goods?

That's a simple, thumbnail sketch of the crisis we are facing. We know the implications because we are beginning to live them today: decreased productivity; more congestion; more delays; and more safety threats to each of us individually, and as a nation. There are no simple answers to these complex challenges (otherwise they would not be a crisis!). One thing we know for certain is that solutions will require innovation, technology, great political will, and yes, lots of money.

We also know that business should be leading the debate and needs a seat at the table when the decisions are made. That's what the Chamber is focused on now ... Stay tuned.