2010 Industry Forecast
With a rocky 2009 fading, it's time to look forward to 2010. Industry experts weigh in on the road ahead.
By Lisa Cleaver, managing editor
The coming year holds much promise for the transportation industry -- if Oberstar's six-year, $500 billion highway bill passes, that is. Of course, the highway bill is only one thing on this industry's plate.
Will the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) continue to stimulate transportation construction? What about the Highway Trust Fund's solvency problems? We posed these questions, and a few more, to some industry experts to get their opinions on what 2010 holds for asphalt contractors and producers. Here's what they had to say.
ARRA stimulus projects
AC: How do you see the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) affecting highway contractors and asphalt producers in 2010?
Alison Premo Black, Vice Presidentof Policy and Economist, American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA): "Funding from ARRA is going to help drive real growth in the highway, street and bridge construction market for 2010," says Black. "ARTBA is forecasting real growth of 8% for 2010."
Jack Sobasso, Director of Program Finance & Management for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): "The good news regarding ARRA was that highway projects were ready to go and stimulated the economy," says Sobasso. "At this point in time, 80% of the highway money is obligated.
"If you think of a bell curve, we're in the bottom half of the bell curve right now," he continues. "In early 2010, we'll be at the peak …
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