Roadway Chief Urges Highway Improvements

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img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/roadway.gif" width=90 align=right>Congress should not allow the performance of critical highway corridors to continue to deteriorate, the Senate subcommittees on surface transportation and infrastructure were told Monday.

Offering views on freight transportation from both Roadway Corp. and the American Trucking Associations, Roadway’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael W. Wickham said congested and unreliable highways threaten to reverse economic gains made as a result of just-in-time logistics.

“We strongly urge Congress to make improving the National Highway System its highest priority during highway reauthorization through significantly higher, dedicated funding,” Wickham said.



He also suggested that Congress consider “innovative ideas” such as the construction of voluntary truck-only highways.

Wickham warned, however, against diverting highway money under the false notion that investing in other modes of transportation will negate the need for highway investments.

He said highway efficiency can also be improved by granting states authority to reform size and weight regulations.

“Using fewer trucks to move goods would reduce congestion significantly and would produce important safety, air quality and economic benefits,” he said.

(Click here for the full press release.)

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