Presidents as different as Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton all grasped the moment when surface transportation investment legislation was pending before them.

艾森豪威尔（Eisenhower）在1955年2月22日向国会传达信息时说：“我们作为一个国家的团结是通过自由思考和轻松运输人和商品的交通来维持的。”

Eisenhower signed the historic law creating the Interstates and Highway Trust Fund on June 29, 1956.

Over 26 years later, Ronald Reagan made the case for a five-cent federal gas tax increase in a national radio address, saying: “We simply cannot allow this magnificent system to deteriorate beyond repair.” Reagan also noted, “we will be preserving for future generations of Americans a highway system that has long been the envy of the world.”

On Jan. 7, 1983, Reagan signed a law boosting U.S. highway and public transportation investment with its accompanying five-cent gas tax increase—the first one in 23 years.

During a June 9, 1998, White House signing ceremony, Bill Clinton said: “The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) represents a significant achievement in our efforts to meet our transportation needs in the next century. I commend the Congress for its diligent, bipartisan efforts to resolve differences and to pass this important legislation.”

六年的TEA-21产生了高速公路投资的19％，一年一度的增长。

这三个例子（在双方的政府中，跨越了42年），这三个例子阐明了联邦基础设施投资政策立法的罕见时刻在美国的首都汇聚在一起。

We are on the cusp of another such moment with the sweeping Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which the U.S Senate approved Aug. 10 in an overwhelming 69-30 vote. Since that pivotal moment, the stakes have become even higher. Last month Hurricane Ida slashed its way through New Orleans and up the Atlantic Seaboard, leaving billions of dollars in damaged infrastructure in its wake. Bridges and highways collapsed. Transit systems were damaged. Many roads are now impassable.

值得庆幸的是，救济工作正在进行中。但是结构性基础设施缺陷仍在影响地区和全国。这就是为什么IIJA将其1万亿美元的近一半献给高速公路，桥梁和公共交通改善的原因。

The highway and public transit investment increases in year one: 24% and 31%, respectively.

The IIJA also contains common sense reforms to speed up project delivery by enacting into law the previous administration’s “One Federal Decision” Executive Order, which consolidates all permitting decisions for major infrastructure projects into one single environmental document. It seeks to finalize the environmental review process within an average time of two years and complete all authorization decisions for a major project within 90 days.

Best Opportunity in 25 Years

The House is currently scheduled to vote on the measure before Sept. 27, and the transportation construction industry is fully engaged in generating support for the IIJA. Transportation construction contractors are meeting virtually with lawmakers in their districts. Industry groups hope to sign a letter to each House member urging passage. After the House reconvenes Sept. 20, transportation stakeholders will mobilize on Sept. 21 to generate grassroots momentum for passing the IIJA and sending it to President Biden for signature.

IIJA显然提供了将近25年来最好的机会，以增强经济竞争力并提高所有用户的运输系统绩效。现在，在美国运输基础设施上进行了历史性投资，我们所有人都需要与国会议员互动，以抓住这一时刻 - 只是艾森豪威尔，里根和克林顿总统所做的。

Dave Bauer is president and chief executive officer of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).