USA Today’s Paul Davidson reported on Monday that “As the economy picks up, the nation’s creaking infrastructure will increasingly struggle to handle the load.”  He points specifically to the freight system.  While the shortcomings were partly masked during the recession due to the economy and a downturn in freight shipments, Davidson points out that “shippers and logistics companies show delays are starting to lengthen along with the moderately growing economy.”

Davidson not only captures the real threat to the nation’s infrastructure, he captures the threat to the nation’s national freight system.  He showcases a growing threat to the economy by a lack of proper investment in the way we move goods through inland waterways, ports, and surface transportation.  That is why yesterday my colleague Bruce Josten signed on to a multi-association letter to members of the House and Senate conference committee for the highway-transit bill.  Bruce called on members to support a national freight program and policy in the surface transportation authorization bill and underscored the Chamber’s belief that that substantial investment in the nation’s freight transportation system must be given a high priority in this authorization.

For a full text of the letter, click here.