The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) recently launched a nationwide campaign to push for new federal highway and transit funding to preserve economic growth in communities across the country. The campaign, called America’s Moving Forward, launched as a new AGC analysis of federal employment data found that most major metropolitan areas in the country added new construction jobs since 2020.
“Improving highways and transportation systems makes it easier for companies to thrive and expand by lowering shipping costs, accelerating deliveries, and connecting firms to clients and investors,” said Ken Simonson, AGC’s Chief Economist. “But without a long-term transportation bill in place, it is hard to see how most areas will be able to sustain the kind of job growth they have experienced since 2020.”
Simonson noted that 10 of the nation’s 15 largest metro areas added construction jobs between December 2020 and December 2025. The Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, metro area added the most new construction jobs (47,100) and experienced the highest rate of growth (22 percent). Other major metro areas that added a significant number of new jobs include Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; and Washington, D.C.
Simonson said one reason for the construction job growth in most areas is the significant investments being made by federal and state officials to improve the region’s transportation network. He noted that developers look for good transportation connections when siting new projects, manufacturers want efficient shipping routes, and businesses want to avoid gridlock.
He cautioned, however, that there are growing indications that Congress may not draft, debate, and pass the next surface transportation bill before the current law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, expires at the end of September 2026. If that were to happen, Simonson warned that it will become harder for states to move forward with the kind of big, multi-year transportation projects that spur significant economic growth.
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As a result, the America’s Moving Forward campaign seeks to educate the public — and through them Congress — about the many benefits of having a highway and transportation bill in place and on time, AGC said. The campaign uses targeted digital and social media advertising to reach constituents in key Congressional districts across the country, directing them to a campaign site to learn more about the benefits of federal transportation funding and connect them with their member of Congress to show their support.
Ads for the campaign are running in Texas and Missouri and will launch in additional states in spring 2026. AGC plans to invest up to $2 million in the campaign.
“While this is a big investment for an association like ours, it is a small price to pay to ensure continued economic growth in America’s communities,” Simonson said. “If we do our job right, it will be very hard for Congress to kick the can on passing a new highway, bridge, and transit bill before the current one expires.”
