A senior cargo executive has chided the current crop of presidential candidates for ignoring vital transportation issues in speeches and on their web sites. Julian Keeling, president & CEO at Consolidators International, Inc. (CII), a major US-based cargo organisation, claims that the nation’s US$1 trillion transportation infrastructure is badly in need of repair and improved maintenance, yet is disregarded by the candidates while they’re on the campaign trail.
"Transportation is ignored while they speak endlessly about the same subjects," said Keeling.
"It doesn’t seem to matter if the candidate is a Democrat or a Republican, whether male or female; our highways, bridges, tunnels and airways are getting no respect," stated Keeling.
"Why are they ducking this acutely serious matter?" Keeling asked.
The CII chief believes the candidates are so preoccupied with the "big" issues facing the nation, including the war in Iraq, the economy highlighted by the sub-prime mess and health care.
"Transportation experts believe the shortfall in the repair and maintenance of our transportation infrastructure is at least $200 billion," Keeling stated. "Our quality of life will suffer unless we wisely spend the billions of dollars to make these improvements," he emphasised.