The CEO Council for Growth applauds Congress for reaching a bipartisan agreement on a long-term surface transportation reauthorization, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.  The legislation was passed in Congress and signed into law by the President.

The FAST Act is a $305 billion five-year, fully paid-for surface transportation reauthorization of federal highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier safety, hazardous materials, and passenger rail programs.  The bill reforms and strengthens transportation programs, provides long-term certainty and more flexibility for states and local governments, and streamlines project approval processes.

The transportation bill is an important legislative victory for the CEO Council which has long advocated for adequate and sustained funding for roads, highways, bridges, and transit to revitalize and enhance the region’s mobility.  Passage of the FAST Act serves as the first long-term surface transportation reauthorization in a decade and puts to an end the recent string of short-term extensions and funding patches passed by Congress which have challenged local and state governments’ ability to plan for major transportation projects.

The  CEO Council thanks Members of the regional congressional delegation for their work in passing a long-term solution for a safe and reliable network of transportation infrastructure.