The debate over transportation investment needs is not whether there is a gap in funding but rather how big that gap is.
This report addresses the widest possible set of surface transportation investment needs, including the investment required to improve the system for urban and rural system users and to meet the needs of freight movement. It also considers the investment required simply to maintain current performance and, more important, to improve it. Although the investment required to improve the condition and performance of our surface transportation system is significantly greater than that needed to maintain it, both sets of investment needs are simply daunting in comparison with current investment levels.