More than 400 construction leaders, labour representatives, engineers and infrastructure advocates gathered in Washington DC this week as the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) held its annual fly-in, pressing Congress to deliver a new surface transportation reauthorisation bill ahead of the September 2026 deadline.
The first day of the event featured addresses from US Department of Transportation secretary Sean P. Duffy and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member Rick Larsen. Coalition members are due to meet lawmakers and staff on the second day to push for timely passage of the next reauthorisation bill and sustained funding for highways, roads, bridges, transit, safety programmes and multimodal infrastructure.
“America’s transportation construction industry has arrived in Washington with a simple message: pass a reauthorisation bill that helps deliver the projects every congressional district depends on,” the coalition said in a joint statement. “Federal transportation investments are not abstract line items. These programmes keep our economy growing, freight moving and communities connected.”
Deadline pressure
The current surface transportation authorisation expires on 30 September 2026. Industry leaders warned that delays could stall projects, drive up costs and create uncertainty for states and contractors planning long-term work.
“The next reauthorisation is about delivering safer roads, easier commutes, stronger supply chains, and lower costs for American families and businesses,” the coalition added. “As lawmakers begin to debate the next surface transportation bill, they should protect the crucial investments already at work in every congressional district, adjust them for inflation, and deliver a bipartisan bill by September 30.”
Coalition priorities
The TCC recently published its 2026 Principles for Surface Transportation Reauthorisation, setting out a framework intended to guide the legislative process. Key asks include:
- Protecting current investment levels and adjusting for inflation to maintain purchasing power, alongside project delivery improvements to ensure federal dollars are used efficiently
- Increasing resources to protect workers in construction zones and improve safety for both construction staff and the travelling public
- Modernising federal user fee structures — such as fuel taxes or mileage-based mechanisms — to provide fair, sustainable long-term revenue streams
The Transportation Construction Coalition is a partnership of 34 national associations and construction unions representing hundreds of thousands of individuals with a direct interest in federal transportation programmes. Established in 1996, it is co-chaired by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America.
