We Advance the Interests of the Transportation Construction Industry. Period.

ARTBA's Value Proposition

At the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), the mission is simple: We are a federation whose primary goal is to aggressively grow and protect transportation infrastructure investment to meet the public and business demand for safe and efficient travel. ARTBA also provides programs and services designed to give its members a global competitive edge.

On behalf of its 5,000+ members from the public and private sectors, ARTBA works to ensure its members' views and business concerns are addressed before Congress, the White House, federal agencies and news media.

Market Development

Membership provides tangible value for industry firms and agencies because ARTBA delivers results.

Since 1990, federal investment in transportation construction programs has increased by more than 120 percent. By comparison, over the same period, federal outlays for general construction increased about 55 percent.

With the 2009 reauthorization of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), ARTBA is once again leading the charge and framing the debate on Capitol Hill. The association is advocating that the existing federal surface transportation program be refocused and restructured, with two major components.

One would be boosting the core highway/transit program to protect past investments in the nation's infrastructure, particularly the Interstate system.

The second is creation of “Critical Commerce Corridors” to add the new highway and intermodal capacity necessary to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of freight. ARTBA's proposals offer a huge opportunity for the future of the transportation construction market.

The “Transportation Makes America Work!” campaign targeting “inside the Washington beltway” audiences is helping build political support for significant new federal transportation investments.

Grassroots & Coalitions: ARTBA is continually developing relationships with federal lawmakers and their staffs to ensure they know the impacts that proposed legislation and regulations will have on transportation development.

The association also relies heavily on its network of grassroots activists to help deliver the industry's message to Congress, the President and federal agencies, and provides them with the latest technologies and tools to make it easy.

ARTBA has been a long-time leader in developing coalitions that advance the industry's agenda on Capitol Hill.

They include:

• Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), which is comprised of 28 national associations and labor groups. ARTBA founded the TCC in 1996 and co-chairs and manages its day-to-day activities.

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce-led Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM). ARTBA first recommended the formation of ATM and serves as vice chair. Its mission is to engage the business community in highlighting the importance of transportation to the U.S. economy.

ARTBA also works with the Better Roads & Transportation Council of America, Small Business Legislative Council, and The Road Information Program.

Market Protection

From the halls of Congress to the halls of justice, ARTBA regularly takes action to defend transportation construction industry market interests when threatened by dubious regulation or litigation.

Since 1993, ARTBA has invested more than $1 million in environmental litigation on the industry's behalf.

And the return on that investment? ARTBA's legal advocacy has allowed nearly $50 billion in approved, yet challenged, U.S. transportation projects and plans to move forward.

ARTBA also actively represents the industry's views before federal regulatory agencies, submitting comments on proposed clean air and water, wetlands, storm water, historic preservation, and roadway work zone safety regulations.

Member Services

ARTBA offers a variety of information, tools, and services to help its member firms and agencies operate more efficiently. Among them:

Economics & Research: a cutting-edge subscription service that includes information on state federal-aid highway obligations, contractor and planning and design firm market surveys, and the value of transportation construction put in place. ARTBA is the only association providing this important value-added economics and research service for transportation construction professionals.

Safety: Through the Traffic Safety Industry Division and advisory and policy councils, ARTBA brings together industry leaders to discuss all aspects of transportation and construction safety issues. ARTBA also provides a number of worker training resources such as the OSHA 10-Hour course, and an extensive library of safety manuals and videos.

The ARTBA Foundation-managed National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse (www.workzonesafety.org) is the world's largest online resource with comprehensive information to help improve safety in roadway construction sites.

Timely Information: “Transportation Builder” magazine, “Washington Newsline,” e-newsletters, websites (www.artba.org and www.artbastore.org), membership directory, and annual guide to state transportation officials & engineers are all part of the communications arsenal ARTBA uses to keep its members informed.

Professional Development: Through its project management and safety academies, the Transportation Builder Institute, provides custom professional development programs for transportation design and construction executives.

Transportation Development Foundation: Boasts the “Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program,” which provides post-high school financial assistance to the children of highway workers killed or permanently disabled on the job, and awards programs aimed at educating the public about the industry's enormous contributions to the American economy, quality of life, environment and road safety.

The Foundation also manages the FHWA's Local and Tribal Technical Assistance Program Clearinghouse, which disseminates information to a network of 58 state and tribal centers with the goal of promoting technology transfer and helping ensure the nation's roadways are built, maintained and renovated in a safe and cost effective manner.

Building Blocks for the Future: The long-term success of the industry and ARTBA depend on the continued recruitment and development of future leaders.

The ARTBA Young Executive Development Program and Young Executive Leadership Council are the vehicles to help meet this goal.

Helping You Get Connected

Networking and business opportunities at ARTBA's national meetings and events offer excellent chances to connect with your peers and government officials to discuss important issues. These forums also offer a wealth of educational sessions focused on management, operations and new technologies.

Visit www.artba.org to learn more about The Driving Force in
Transportation Construction!