As the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) seeks input for its next surface transportation proposal, the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is urging lawmakers to adopt user-based funding models, such as tolling, to address funding shortfalls and modernize the country’s transportation infrastructure.
In a formal submission to USDOT, IBTTA emphasized the role of tolling in maintaining and funding some of the most heavily traveled roads, bridges, and tunnels across the US. Currently, 132 toll operators in 33 states handle nearly 10 billion transactions annually, generating more than US$25bn a year. These funds, IBTTA noted, are directly reinvested in the transportation system and serve as a dependable funding source as federal revenues decline.
According to projections from the Congressional Budget Office, the Highway Trust Fund is expected to begin facing annual shortfalls of about US$20bn by 2028, ballooning to a deficit of US$241bn by 2033. IBTTA said this presents a critical moment for US policymakers to rethink how transportation infrastructure is financed.
“Addressing the Highway Trust Fund challenge requires using every tool in the toolbox,” said James Hofmann, president of IBTTA and executive director/CEO of the North Texas Tollway Authority. “User-based revenue models like tolling and road pricing are proven and dependable, and when combined with existing federal and state funding streams, they can provide the investment needed to maintain and improve the backbone of America’s economy.”
IBTTA’s policy recommendations align with USDOT priorities that include enhancing safety, accelerating project delivery, promoting economic growth, and encouraging public-private partnerships. The group is advocating for greater federal flexibility that would allow states and localities to implement tolling and congestion pricing on federal-aid highways. This would not only support road maintenance and improvements but also help manage congestion in urban areas.
Additionally, IBTTA is pushing for increased federal investment in bridge safety and resilience, more efficient project delivery through the “One Federal Decision” policy, and further support for alternative revenue streams, such as mileage-based user fees and road usage charging.
The association also highlights the need for technological advancement, calling for stronger support of connected vehicle infrastructure (V2X), public-private collaboration, and national interoperability standards. It is also encouraging expansion of resilience programs like PROTECT to better prepare infrastructure for extreme weather events and other disruptions.
“The reauthorization of the federal surface transportation programs is an opportunity to modernize America’s infrastructure through investment,” said Mark Muriello, IBTTA vice president of policy and government affairs. “The reality is that there are no free roads. New federal revenue sources are essential. By embracing user-based payments as a complement to existing federal funding, we can deliver safer, smarter and more reliable transportation systems that drive long-term economic growth.”
IBTTA also signed a joint letter with more than 60 transportation advocacy groups, urging Congress to adopt reauthorization principles centered on long-term investment, state flexibility, safety, and streamlined project approval processes.
Read IBTTA’s full submission to the US DOT here and the coalition letter to Congress here.
