The American Road & Transportation Builders Assn. has signed with Democratic powerhouse Elmendorf Ryan to push its bid for more federal funding for road projects.

The October reauthorization of President Obama’s Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act is a top priority for the group of highway planning, engineering and construction firms.

The President signed MAP-21 last July to provide more than $105B in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 for surface transport work.

AR&TBA has hailed the law as a milestone for the U.S. economy that provided needed funding and promoted "smart" infrastructure growth.

Federal dollars account from 30 percent of 70 percent of state investments in highway, bridge and transportation projects.

ER will educate policymakers on the need for funding to improve the nation’s infrastructure, where 25 percent of bridges are either functionally obsolete or structurally deficient, create/sustain jobs and improve national competitiveness.

Steve Elmendorf, chief of staff to former Congressman and Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, and Jimmy Ryan, ex-legal counsel to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, work the roads account.