The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials received widespread attention last week for a report concluding that freight demands in America are reaching crisis proportions.

AASHTO’s report, called Unlocking Freight, is an analysis of America’s freight system. Between 1980 and 2006, traffic on the Interstate Highway System increased by 150 percent, while Interstate capacity increased by only 15 percent.

Moreover, another 1.8 million trucks will be on the road in the next decade, and in 20 years there will be half again more trucks than there are today.

“This is yet another data point illustrating the severity of the problem, and pointing to the need to address it now,” said PHIA Managing Director Jason Wagner. “The longer we delay solving this problem, the more difficult and costly it will be. Meanwhile, the frustration of traffic congestion and the concerns over safety issues continue to simmer.”

To view the entire series of AASHTO reports on transportation funding to date, click here.