IBTTA Executive Director and CEO Represents Tolling Industry at Infrastructure Investment Summit Hosted by Treasury and Transportation Departments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 9, 2014
CONTACT: Kristofer Eisenla, LUNA+EISENLA media
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Summit Part of White House’s “Build America Investment Initiative” to Increase Infrastructure Investment and Economic Growth

WASHINGTON, DC – Patrick D. Jones, Executive Director and CEO of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association’s (IBTTA) - the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them - represented the tolling industry at today’s Infrastructure Investment Summit hosted by the Department of Treasury with the Department of Transportation. 

Today’s Infrastructure Investment Summit, originally announced on June 17, 2014 as part of President Obama’s Build America Investment Initiative, brought together experts on infrastructure investment from all sectors of the U.S. economy including transportation. The Summit covered a number of topics, including state and local government perspectives on critical issues at each stage of a project’s life cycle and investor perspectives on what constitutes an attractive investment.

“Today’s Summit was a unique opportunity for the tolling industry to engage with other stakeholders in high level discussions about how to strengthen infrastructure investment in the U.S.,” said Patrick D. Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA. “Robust infrastructure investment is vital to a strong U.S. economy and IBTTA is proud to be part of this conversation to improve those investments.”

In a report released during the Summit, the Treasury and Transportation Departments concluded that “The economic case for expanding infrastructure investment is clear, yet public investment has been declining as part of a long-term trend toward fiscal consolidation and lower public investment. Innovation in financing, technology, and management can help reverse this decline and speed the modernization of our infrastructure networks.”

“We couldn’t agree more,” Jones said.  “Now is the time to incorporate new and innovative ways to fund our nation’s transportation infrastructure. Tolling is a proven and effective tool to fund and finance more than 5,000 miles of roads, bridges and tunnels in 35 states. To ensure our roads and bridges remain safe and reliable requires a variety of solutions. All options should be on the table so that states can choose the funding and financing methods that work best for them.”

“We’re encouraged by the Administration’s commitment to infrastructure investment. When public and private financing are structured in a strategic way that utilizes all transportation funding streams, including tolling, the public benefits,” Jones concluded.

In 2013, IBTTA launched Moving America Forward, a public awareness campaign that highlights the benefits of tolling to elected officials at all levels, policymakers, the media, and the general public. For additional information on IBTTA’s Moving America Forward campaign, including fact sheets, background documents and other materials about tolling and the industry, please click here.

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About IBTTA
The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them. Founded in 1932, IBTTA has members in more than 20 countries on six continents. Through advocacy, thought leadership and education, members are implementing state-of-the-art, innovative user-based transportation financing solutions to address the critical infrastructure challenges of the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ibtta.org or join us on Twitter @IBTTA or #TollRoads.