As reported by Better Roads, in testimony before the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) provided statistics on the number of bridges that are classified as deficient. Of the 607,380 bridges in the U.S. in 2012, 25% were classified as deficient.  The GAO also found that the number of deficient bridges has decreased while the number of bridges has increased.

The GAO also commented on the sustainability of transportation funding.  From the article:

GAO added that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has progressed with “clarifying federal goals and linking federal transportation programs…to performance” with the implementation of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which included provisions that added National Highway Performance Program funds and required the Secretary of Transportation to consult with states to establish performance measures for bridge conditions.

However, GOA said “Congress and the administration need to agree on a long-term plan for funding surface transportation.” The agency added that continuing to fund the Highway Trust Fund with the general fund will not sustain necessary transportation projects.