Slowing Funding Darkens Prospects For Strong Transportation Market

摘要

Though transportation firms remain firmly focused on active project agendas, the consequences of a sputtering U.S. economy, rising material and fuel costs, and upheaval in the financial sector appear to be catching up with what has been one of the construction industry's mainstay markets. To be sure, transportation is hardly in a slump. Most design firms in that market report healthy backlogs and no shortage of needs and initiatives that their clients want to tackle, particularly with American motorists logging more than three trillion miles a year, according to the latest Federal Highway Administration figures. The problem-particularly for state highway and bridge programs-is the sharp drops in revenue from consumer- and development-driven taxes and fees that have left gaping holes in their budgets.