Fixing, Maintaining, and Modernizing our Transportation Infrastructure

By Danielle Burr, Head of Federal Affairs

Alongside government officials, citizens, and the rest of the business community, we understand how important the role of government policy and funding is to the maintenance and modernization of America’s transportation infrastructure.

These are the principles that inform our thinking and some of the actions we hope officials consider when they work to improve and maintain world-class transportation infrastructure.

Principle #1) Fix It First

Uber advocates for an infrastructure initiative that focuses on the basics — ensuring that ‘low tech’ road infrastructure is maintained at a world class level. Preserving a good state of repair of America’s roads, coupled with replacement and expansion projects, is important for the efficiency of ridesharing and is crucial to the rollout out of Uber’s self-driving vehicles and freight products. Carefully maintained lane striping, road signage, and general maintenance — like filled potholes — are critical since these are ultimately how self-driving vehicles ‘see’ roads and infrastructure. These basic steps are necessary for economic productivity and highway safety for everyone today, but also represent an investment in the future of transportation.

Principle #2) Invest in Public Transit Infrastructure and Expand Public-Private Partnerships

In many communities, mass transit is the backbone of their transportation systems. Increased investment in public transportation is needed to give more people access to affordable transportation while helping to reduce congestion and pollution. To maximize the return on this investment and give communities more flexibility to develop their own tailored transportation solutions, Uber supports a modern regulatory framework that facilitates stronger collaboration between public agencies and private entities. Uber advocates for expansion, flexibility, and increased funding for the Federal Transit Administration’s Mobility on Demand program, which promotes innovation and cross-cutting multimodal services. This will ultimately lead to improved mobility for all communities, especially where commuters have limited transit options.

Principle #3) Promote Shared Rides

Infrastructure legislation should further advance policies that incentivize shared rides and help alleviate gridlock and reduce pollution. Shared rides are also an efficient way to extend the reach of existing mass transit infrastructure. Variable road pricing models, carpooling, and robust mass transit systems are proven modern-day solutions to reduce traffic congestion, facilitate economic opportunity, and improve the quality of living in our communities. Simple provisions in federal legislation could further encourage these pilots and policies at the local level.

Principle #4) Embrace the Future

The transition to new, cutting-edge transportation technologies has the potential to bring transformative economic, safety, and social benefits to our communities. The burgeoning self-driving, electrification, and vertical-takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle technologies will usher in a new transportation landscape and help make our communities safer, cleaner, more efficient, and more affordable. Government officials have an opportunity to play a pivotal role in the acceleration of those gains. Empowering pilot programs that plan for the future and promoting safe operational research that utilizes real world testing will help bring the tremendous safety and mobility benefits of these technologies to the public sooner.