Seventy-eight percent of U.S. voters want Congress to pass a new federal highway, bridge, and transit bill before the current law expires on September 30, 2026, according to polling recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

“Voters across both parties understand the connection between transportation investment, economic growth, and job creation and want Congress to pass a new transportation bill before the deadline,” said Jeffrey Shoaf, AGC’s Chief Executive Officer. “They want safer roads, less congestion, and increased investment in the infrastructure in their communities.”

Shoaf noted that 78 percent of voters in the poll said that passing a new surface transportation bill on time should be a national priority. He added that 76 percent of voters reported they are more likely to support a member of Congress who helps get the new transportation bill completed.

Other results of the poll include:

• 80 percent of voters want Congress to invest as much or more than current funding in roads, bridges, and transit systems when it passes the next bill.
• 68 percent of voters support every driver paying their fair share to use the transportation system by backing a federal road fee on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, which currently do not contribute to the nation’s transportation funding.
• Three-quarters of voters agree that officials need to do more to make highway work zones safer by allowing advanced safety precautions such as barriers and speed cameras to protect workers.

Shoaf noted that one reason for the significant support in passing a new highway bill is because 55 percent of registered voters experienced at least one road, bridge, or traffic problem in the past two months. That includes 27 percent of voters who reported a vehicle damaged by a pothole during that time.

AGC commissioned the survey of more than 10,000 voters across the country, with breakout data for every state, in partnership with Morning Consult.

The association has also launched a nationwide campaign called America’s Moving Forward to educate the public, and through them Congress, about the benefits of having a highway and transportation bill in place and on time. The campaign uses targeted digital and social media advertising to reach constituents in key Congressional districts. To date, the campaign generated over 30,000 letters to members of Congress.

“The overwhelming support for a new bill should be seen as a bipartisan call on the House of Representatives to pass Build America 250,” Shoaf said. “The House committee took the lead; now the full House needs to act. The polling shows that Congress has a chance to unite the country by investing in a bill that creates jobs, improves safety, and enhances economic growth.”

Shoaf said AGC plans to invest up to $2 million in the America’s Moving Forward campaign. “While that is a big investment for an association like ours, it is a small price to pay to ensure continued economic growth across the country.”

To learn more about the campaign and the polling results, visit AmericaMovingForward.com.