Statement of American Road & Transportation Builders Association President & CEO Pete Ruane

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American Road & Transportation Builders Association

Jan 25, 2011, 09:15 ET

In Response to President Obama's State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) President & CEO Pete Ruane today released the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union address:

"The time is long past due for Congress and the President to work together in a bipartisan manner to develop and invest in a strategic, national transportation plan that is transparent, performance driven and provides the personal mobility, transportation hubs and multi-modal, critical commerce corridors America needs to remain an economic superpower.

"Over the last decade, our international competitors have been heavily investing in well-thought out national transportation development programs featuring state-of-the-art design, materials and excess capacity for future growth. Meanwhile, we've been trying to shoehorn one of the 21st century's largest economies and an ever-growing population into a severely constrained 20th Century transportation network. It's time to get off the path to a second-rate economy and invest for future growth and American jobs."

Established in 1902 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ARTBA represents the U.S. transportation construction industry before Congress, the Executive Branch, federal agencies, news media and general public.

Contact: Jeff Solsby, 202-289-4434

SOURCE American Road & Transportation Builders Association