The problems with air travel are once again dominating headlines and the national conversation about the country’s transportation systems and infrastructure as the summer travel season approaches the July 4th milestone.
The disruption of air travel has a significant impact and is appropriately the subject of scrutiny. However, it is only one problem for travelers, the transportation system, and the travel and tourism industry in America.
Although it doesn’t make as many national headlines, motorists in our country are increasingly confronted with congested, congested, and inaccessible roads and highways, frequently without apparent cause. These issues, as well as their effect on travelers and the economy, are likely to be front and center once more with a record 43 million Americans driving for the July 4 holiday.
The most popular, least expensive, and easiest way for tourists to see our country is by car. So, why has road travel been largely ignored in the nearly constant debate over our nation’s transportation infrastructure in Washington and elsewhere?
That needs to change now.
In my capacity as chairman of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board of the U.S. Commerce Department, I have made it a priority to include roads and highways in the national discussion about infrastructure. By focusing on these crucial infrastructure issues, we can support our nation’s travelers and economy for a long time.
The majority of tourists take road trips to see the country for obvious reasons. Road travel is one of our best tools for boosting our tourism economy and ensuring that as many people as possible can see our nation’s wonders. It is also the most affordable mode of transportation.
Take, for instance, a Southern California family trip to Las Vegas. Las Vegas is a popular destination for families looking for an affordable and memorable getaway, despite its reputation for adult-oriented offerings and high-end experiences.
However, they must first arrive here.
From Southern California to Las Vegas, airfare for a family of four can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,200, including baggage fees.
In contrast, the cost of gas for a road trip to Las Vegas can be less than $100. The price can often make the difference between going somewhere and staying at home.
Sadly, many of the 16 million people who take I-15 from California to Las Vegas experience significant delays and congestion. A trip that should only take three and a half hours often takes ten hours or more. On New Year’s Day, there was an 18-mile backup.
California and Nevada’s political leaders want to close the roadblock. There are no difficult engineering problems or issues with easements—road expansions and improvements could solve this problem. But there is still work to be done.
This project, like so many others, is an example of how projects that have a significant positive impact on the communities and industries around them get bogged down in bureaucracy without getting the attention, funding, or priority they need to succeed.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed by both parties last year, was a crucial first step toward changing that. Nonetheless, there is a lot to do.
There is still funding that needs to be appropriated, despite the fact that the $1.2 trillion bill provided the desperately needed investment in our nation’s infrastructure. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that this funding supports road and highway enhancement.
The National Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is one place to start. The plan is currently being revised by the DOT with the intention of identifying and giving priority to projects that improve the transportation system and its function as the nation’s economic engine for travel and tourism.
One of the country’s main economic drivers is travel and tourism. It supports nearly 15 million jobs and has a trillion-dollar economic impact. Not only will investing in our nation’s roads and highways make traveling safer and more pleasurable for travelers, but it will also significantly boost economic growth and job creation in communities across the country.
We need more than just better roads and highways; we also need a fresher, more up-to-date vision of what road travel means in the twenty-first century. This can be accomplished by having a larger discussion about the problem, one that includes creative solutions that make it possible for more people to travel on America’s roads while reducing emissions and congestion. As leaders in travel, it is our duty to contribute to the realization of a road travel experience that is more seamless and sustainable.
Implementing a road travel strategy for the 21st century has obvious advantages for the community and the economy. Equally evident is the deteriorating state of road travel. We need to give our nation’s highways and roads the money and attention they so desperately need. The Interstate Highway System in the United States was once the envy of the world. Roadways must be given top priority as part of our infrastructure if we want to keep the United States moving.
MGM Resorts International’s president and chief executive officer is Bill Hornbuckle. Additionally, he is the chairman of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The viewpoints expressed in the commentary pieces published on Fortune.com are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Fortune.