<p>The American Road &amp; Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), announced Aug.18 that the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis and Heavy Constructors Association (HCA) of Greater Kansas City have become its latest state affiliates.<br /><br />"AGC of St. Louis and HCA join a growing team of state contractor associations that have chosen to affiliate with ARTBA and work in partnership with us to boost the federal government's investment in transportation," ARTBA President &amp; CEO Pete Ruane said.&nbsp; "Our new chapters and members in Missouri will strengthen our grassroots team as we advocate for a renewed vision and mission for America's federal highway and transit programs."<br /><br />Ruane noted Missouri is home to key congressional and state transportation leaders, and said the Missouri chapters will play a critical role in helping educate these policymakers about the revenue shortfall facing the Highway Trust Fund this year (Missouri can expect a 34 percent cut in its federal highway/bridge funding October 1, unless Congress acts), and about the state's overwhelming investment needs as Congress considers the next <br />multi-year highway/transit investment bill, scheduled for 2009 action. &nbsp;<br /><br />Heavy and highway construction contractors in both chapters will be enrolled as ARTBA members.&nbsp; The two associations will be ARTBA's exclusive Missouri affiliates. AGC of St. Louis members include general contractors engaged in commercial, government, institutional and specialty construction in that region of the state.&nbsp; HCA includes contractors, suppliers and affiliates with an emphasis on heavy construction in the bi-state (Missouri and Kansas) Kansas City area.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /><br />AGC of St. Louis and HCA join 33 other ARTBA chapters from around the country.&nbsp; ARTBA's unique "federation" membership structure includes more than 5,000 private and public sector members in the transportation design and construction industry. &nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp;"ARTBA has a bold vision for the future of the nation's surface transportation network.&nbsp; Next year's federal transportation bill will be critical to St. Louis and Missouri, so we're pleased to join ARTBA's efforts," said Len Toenjes, AGC of St. Louis president.&nbsp; "Our goal is to be the leading voice on behalf of the construction community in St. Louis, to solve problem and find solutions that will make St. Louis a safer more productive community,"&nbsp; added Toenjes. &nbsp;<br /><br />HCA's Executive Director Ed DeSoignie added, "Our partnership with ARTBA gives our members another strong voice in the Nation's Capitol.&nbsp; ARTBA's success will help us protect our area's federal transportation funding and make the case for more investment to meet the Kansas City area's transportation infrastructure needs." <br /><br />-</p>