FAST Act Now Law of the Land – AGC Looks to the Future

For the first time in over a decade there is a long-term authorization of federal highway and transit programs in place following President Obama signing the five-year $302 billion Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act into law last Friday, December 4th. The FAST Act had previously passed both the House and the Senate by overwhelmingly bipartisan majorities. 
A summary of the key provisions impacting construction can be viewed here.

Last week, AGC CEO Steven Sandherr and staff held a webinar for our members outlining key provisions of the legislation.   During the webinar, Sandherr made it clear that the FAST Act was a direct result of the years of effort AGC members and their employees spent convincing their representatives and Senators about the importance of a long-term and well-funded transportation bill.  He highlighted the success of the Hardhats for Highways grassroots program as an integral part of our industry’s collective efforts on the bill.  A recording of the webinar is available here and on the Hardhats for Highways website.

Now that FAST Act is the law of the land, we encourage you to continue to visit Hardhats for Highways to send thank you letters to your member of Congress for supporting the bill and if they didn’t support it,  you can express your displeasure with their vote.  In addition, Hardhats for Highways has been updated to provide an AGC overview of the FAST Act along with other FAST Act resources.

While the success of the FAST Act cannot be overlooked, the long term solution to the Nation’s transportation infrastructure needs will require identifying a sustainable, on-going, user fee based revenue source.  AGC will continue to work with leadership on Capitol Hill and with our transportation allies to address this concern moving forward. 

Associated General Contractors of America