America’s founding fathers knew the importance of roads.

Quotes from signers of U.S. Constitution are proof.

September 17 was the 228th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Urging members of Congress yet again to make transportation infrastructure investment a federal priority, ARTBA fittingly issued a news release quoting key signers — which included the following historic wisdom:

Alexander Hamilton

“The improvement of the roads would be a measure universally popular. None can be more so. For this purpose a regular plan should be adopted, coextensive with the Union, to be successfully executed, and a fund should be appropriated sufficient. To provide roads and bridges is within the direct purview of the Constitution.”

James Madison

“Among the means of advancing the public interest, the occasion is a proper one for recalling the attention of Congress to the great importance of establishing throughout the country the roads and canals which can best be executed under the national authority. No objects within the circle of political economy so richly repay the expense bestowed on them.”

Benjamin Franklin

“And have we not all these taxes too ... and our provincial or public taxes besides? And over and above, have we not new roads to make, new bridges to build ... and a number of things to do that your fathers have done for you, and which you inherit from them, but which we are obliged to pay for out of our present labor?”

George Washington

“The credit, the saving, and the convenience of this country all require that our great roads leading from one public place to another should be straightened and established by law. To me, these things seem indispensably necessary.”