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 Gene
McCormick
Chairman of the American
Road & Transportation
Builders Association, Senior vice president of
Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas
At the 50th anniversary of the Interstate Highway
System, Gene McCormick finds himself in one of
the more prominent leadership positions within
the transportation construction industry.
The senior vice president
of Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas in
Naples, Fla., is currently serving as chairman
of the American Road & Transportation Builders
Association, arguably the top organization advocating
for transportation contractors, designers and
other industry members.
McCormick has certainly
earned his current leadership position. He was
previously with the Illinois Department of Transportation
for 25 years, where he ultimately served as deputy
transportation secretary. Also, prior to joining
Parsons Brinckerhoff, he served as deputy administrator
for the Federal Highway Administration from 1989
to 1993.
Though the industry was
pleased with the recent reauthorization of the
federal transportation program, McCormick and
others felt that bill didn’t adequately address
long-term funding issues. For example, ARTBA estimates
that the Highway Trust Fund could approach a zero
balance by 2009 – around the time of the
next reauthorization effort.
“SAFETEA-LU provides
a sound foundation for the future, but certainly
leaves key questions and issues open for the future,”
McCormick said. “It’s a key foundation,
but on the other hand it leaves certain unanswered
questions that will be challenges for the future.”
From this top position,
McCormick doesn’t like what he sees.
“We see the condition
of the Interstate system continuing to deteriorate,
particularly from a demand/congestion standpoint,
and to a lesser degree from a purely preservation/maintenance
standpoint,” he said. “Preserving and
expanding that Interstate system is absolutely
key to our future. Nearly 90 percent of freight
movement in the country is on highways, with a
predominant share of that on Interstate. Almost
90 percent of commuters use highways and the Interstate
system to a large degree. So we must protect that
past investment in the Interstate system, but
we need to expand the system’s capacity to
address clearly congested corridors.”
As a result, McCormick sees
the next reauthorization effort – which should
begin moving forward in 2009 – as the most
critical one in 50 years.
“It is by far the most
important turning point since the creation of
the Interstate system 50 years ago,” McCormick
said. “It is clear to me that more of the
same will not serve our country’s long-term
interests. But I’m optimistic that we can
create a new vision and then implement that vision
in a way that serves the interests of our country.”
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