Metropolitan Civic Leadership Alliance Calls on Congress to Reauthorize Transportation Funding
Nine business-led civic organizations urge predictable, long-term multimodal investment in leading metropolitan regions that drive the nation’s economic growth
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 16, 2025 — United by an ambitious transportation agenda for our country, the Metropolitan Civic Leadership Alliance (MCLA), a coalition of nine business-led civic organizations representing the nation’s leading metropolitan regions, is calling on Congress to reauthorize the federal transportation funding bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is set to expire this fall.
Recognizing the vital role transportation plays in driving metropolitan regions’ economic growth and quality of life, MCLA is releasing a set of policy priorities for a forward-looking transportation package that would provide high-capacity metropolitan regions with greater funding certainty and flexibility to deliver complex, multimodal infrastructure projects.
The coalition is comprised of nine civic organizations led by CEOs and senior executives of major regional employers, united by a mission to make their regions great places to live and work. Member organizations include the Bay Area Council; Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago; Dallas Regional Chamber; Greater Houston Partnership; Greater Washington Partnership; Massachusetts Competitive Partnership; Metro Atlanta Chamber; Partnership for New York City; and Partnership for Rhode Island.
Together, these regions account for nearly 25% of the U.S. population and 30% of national gross domestic product.
MCLA outlines policy and funding priorities aimed at unlocking metropolitan innovation and strengthening integrated transportation systems, including:
- Investing in multimodal infrastructure to drive economic growth, ensuring federal funding supports roads, transit, rail, freight and aviation.
- Modernizing regulatory and project delivery processes by streamlining permitting, approvals and grant programs while preserving environmental safeguards.
- Strengthening public transit and rail systems to maintain safe, high-performing networks that efficiently connect people and support regional economies.
- Leveraging innovation to address congestion and mobility challenges, including scalable, local solutions such as performance-based tolling, HOV lanes, transit priority and multimodal alternatives that mitigate congestion.
- Promoting transit-oriented development, maximizing existing infrastructure and encouraging housing and commercial development near high-quality transit, supported by public-private partnerships designed to strengthen regional economies.
- Investing in multimodal freight and trade infrastructure critical to domestic and global commerce, such as urban rail, port, road, bridge and aviation projects.
“Consistent, predictable investment in urban transportation is essential to economic growth,” said Kathy Hollinger, CEO of the Greater Washington Partnership. “In the Baltimore–DC–Richmond corridor, we’ve seen that when we work together across jurisdictions, we can deliver real results. That’s why we are committed to partnering with peers across the country to advance transportation investments that modernize our systems, strengthen urban economies and keep regions competitive.”
MCLA members bring deep, real-world experience advancing transportation solutions in their regions, including innovative financing and congestion management strategies, support for historic investments in transit and passenger rail and strengthened global connectivity through major metropolitan airports.
“As a global transportation hub, Chicago relies on a resilient, modern, multimodal infrastructure to get people and things where they need to go,” said Derek Douglas, President of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. “Congress must empower metropolitan areas like ours to provide both the freedom and motivation to innovate, grow, and make the most of every federal dollar.”
Collectively, MCLA’s regions demonstrate strong stewardship of federal resources and a proven ability to deliver large-scale, multimodal projects. This experience positions MCLA as a ready partner to Congress as it works to sustain the momentum of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and ensure continued investment in metropolitan transportation systems that underpin regional prosperity and national competitiveness.
“Our country’s continued economic growth, along with its affordability, depends on great transportation infrastructure, which requires sustained public investment,” said Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO, Partnership for New York City.
“Infrastructure is about more than roads and rail lines, it’s about connecting communities. Strong investments in transit are essential to unlocking economic opportunity,” said Liz Catucci, Executive Director of Partnership for Rhode Island. “Rhode Island may be small, but our vision is shared. By working together across cities, towns, and the private sector, we’ve proven that we can fully leverage federal investments in infrastructure in ways that connect people to opportunity and celebrate shared success.”
MCLA will continue to advance the case for a bold, long-term federal transportation reauthorization through joint activities and coordinated efforts across its member regions.
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About Greater Washington Partnership
Greater Washington Partnership is the first-of-its-kind nonprofit alliance of the region’s most influential and leading employers across industry sectors in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Together, we leverage our collective experiences, resources and assets to identify shared challenges and offer real solutions to the region’s most critical issues including skills and talent, regional mobility, infrastructure and economic growth. Our goal is to ensure the entire region, from Baltimore to Richmond, remains vibrant, economically competitive, prosperous for all and the best place to live, work and build a business. Learn more about the Partnership at greaterwashingtonpartnership.com.