Market Activity to Remain Healthy in 2026, ARTBA Outlook Shows

What’s happening: The U.S. transportation construction market is expected to grow nearly three percent to a record $209.1 billion in 2026, according to ARTBA’s newly released market outlook.

What stands out: Bridge construction is expected to be strong as major projects supported by federal and state investments get underway. Public transit construction is expected to return to growth after several difficult years following the COVID-19 pandemic and loss in ridership. And, airport terminal, runway and railroad construction should stay steady or grow moderately based on broader economic factors.

Looking at this year: This resurgent outlook follows a relatively flat 2025 where steady federal investment yielded an expected $203.5 billion total value of transportation construction activity, up from $203 billion in 2024. Based on available data, construction activity by mode appeared to be mixed this past year. Specifically, highway and street, mass transit, and rail construction trended downward, while bridge and tunnel, port and waterway, and airport terminal construction activity increased.

What’s next: According to ARTBA’s analysis, several of the factors that contributed to 2025’s mixed results will continue to impact the 2026 outlook. However, the federal surface transportation program continues to provide record levels of resources for highway, bridge, and transit work as the last year of authorized funding got underway Oct. 1.

States will continue to leverage federal support for major improvements, with more major formula and discretionary projects getting to the construction phase. As expected, highway construction market activity will plateau at or near record levels in the last year of the federal surface transportation law.