WASHINGTON, July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Road & Transportation Builders Association President & CEO Pete Ruane released the following statement regarding the Texas Transportation Institute's Annual "Urban Mobility Report:" "It should be a real wake-up call to political leaders and the public that it took the greatest economic downturn in nearly 80 years to cause a slight reduction in traffic congestion. As the report points out, the fact remains there has been a 50 percent increase in the economic costs of traffic congestion over the past decade, which amounts to a growing 'hidden tax' levied on American families and businesses. "The answer is clearly more highway and public transit capacity. Congress should reject the Obama Administration's call to delay the multi-year surface transportation authorization bill for 18 months. Robust new investments aimed at creating additional transportation infrastructure capacity and providing more travel options will help stimulate economic recovery and better prepare the nation for the mobility challenges that come with it."
