transportation & infrastructure
Transportation in the U.S. is largely owned and maintained by state and local governments.
general notes
transportation is largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
federally maintained roads only found on federal lands like national parks and federal facilities (military bases)
Interstate Highway System partially funded by federal government but owned by individual state governments
a few private highways using tolls to pay for constructions and maintenance
US Department of Transportation provide regulation, supervision, federal funding except for customs, immigration and security (responsibility of Department of Homeland Security)
each state has own Department of Transportation
congestion
2009 study claimed traffic congestion costs US almost 87.2 billion
increased 63% over past decade
continues to follow method of resolving congestion by widening roadways
public transit
most medium sized cities have some sort of local public transport, usually fixed bus routes
larger cities have metro rail systems
national network of highways built for defense and commerce, begun in 1956 under President Eisenhower (republican who served 1953 to 1961).
major acts
Federal-Aid Highway Act (1956): created interstate highway system, massively expanding roads across US
funded by federal gas tax
major shift toward car-centric infrastructure
Urban Mass Transportation Act (1964): provided federal support for public transit systems in cities (buses and subways)
laid foundation for urban mass transit grants
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (1991): shifter policy to include transit, biking, walking, local planning, not just highways
gave more power to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (1998) and SAFETEA-LU (2005): continued funding for multimodal transportation, including highways, transit, rail
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): 1.2 trillion investment in roads, bridges, broadband, public transit, EV charging, water infrastructure
bipartisan support, largely led by Democrats and President Joe Biden
Democratic president who served from 2021 to 2025
party views
democrats, in general....
support major federal investment in public transit, rail, EV infrastructure, climate-friendly urban design
emphasize equity, improving infrastructure in poor and marginalized neighborhoods
push for complete streets, safe for cars bikes, walkers, green cities
tie transportation policy to climate action and racial justice
republicans, in general....
support infrastructure spending especially for roads, highways, bridges, but often oppose massive new spending or mandates
prefer state and local control over federal planning
emphasize personal vehicle travel over transportation funds for bike lanes or transit only projects
focus more on economic growth, job creation, deregulation to spur urban development