Reasons to support highway funding

To the editor:

Our nation's future is at a crossroads. We need to solve the funding crisis facing our nation's highways by May 31 or we will be on a path to put our infrastructure and economy at risk. Studies have shown Iowa's infrastructure needs have outpaced available funding. There are three ways to address this issue:

l Allow our roads and bridges to continue to deteriorate and hope someone in the future addresses the issue.

l Borrow the money, fix them today, and let our children and grandchildren repay the loans.

l Act now to increase the revenue coming into the Iowa's highway fund.

Paying additional fees/taxes seems to be the best scenario for us as well as Iowa's future generations.

An Iowa State University study has shown that a .10 cent increase in the user fee would cost the average Iowan roughly $80 a year or less than $7 per month. However, The American Society of Civil Engineers also has looked at this and their studies indicate driving on roads in need of repair cost the average Iowa motorist $422 per year or $35 per month in additional vehicle repairs.

Here are two more reasons to support highway funding:

l Iowa has many bridges in need of repair. When embargoed bridges cause farmers, truckers and emergency vehicles to find longer alternate routes to their destinations, it becomes a safety issue. Time is money and time can be a lifesaver.

l Highway construction creates jobs. Working Iowans are good for our economy.

Dave McLaughlin

Cedar Rapids