insights Four little-known facts about the USA's transportation market
It’s an exciting time to work in the American transportation market. 2021 saw increased spending on America’s transportation market infrastructure, with 41% of federal infrastructure funds going towards highway transportation. A further 19% was allocated to light rail and mass transit.
As a result, there are more opportunities for highway engineers, project engineers, and project managers, all of whom are integral to transportation infrastructure. For instance, roadway engineering jobs and transportation engineering jobs are some of the fastest growing careers in US transportation.
There are some exciting projects on the horizon – but first, here are some lesser-known facts about the transportation market in the US.
Little-known facts about the US transportation market
Many new roads you drive on were 3D models first
Digital technologies, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), have revolutionized how we design roads and infrastructure. Increasingly, many new roads are visualized first as 3D models, allowing for better accuracy and budget management. Similarly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also being leveraged to help build new roads. You can expect to see AI and 3D modeling even more in the future – one day soon, every new road you drive on will have been a 3D model before it was constructed.
There are more than 4 million miles of roads in the US
A staggering 4.09 million miles of roads crisscross the US, including 47,432 miles of interstate highways. Despite the vast network of tracks and highways, more than one-third of all roads in the country are not paved, and more than 70% are in rural areas. That is a huge opportunity for future growth.
There are currently more than 47,000 structurally deficient bridges in the US
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association estimate that it could take more than 80 years to repair or replace all of these bridges. This shocking number shows you just how much opportunity there is for bridge engineering careers in America.
Women are playing a bigger role in the success of the industry
As recently as 2018, less than 20% of the global transportation workforce were women – but things are starting to change. More women are joining this dynamic and exciting industry, and companies like AtkinsRéalis are helping them launch their transport careers.
AtkinsRéalis’ exciting transportation projects
Now that you know some new facts, let’s take a look at some of the new transportation projects launching across the country. We are a leading global company that provides engineering, procurement, and construction services and are a leader in the USA.
Here are just a few of AtkinsRéalis’ transportation projects.
The Purple Line
This new light rail transit line will connect Bethesda and New Carrollton, Maryland. It’s a 16.2-mile line with a total of 21 stations and platforms and will help to ease the congestion along the Capital Beltway.
The El Paso Streetcar Project
This 4.8-mile streetcar project revitalizes a 1950s-era streetcar that used to connect El Paso City and neighboring Mexico. This is an exciting project that will bring back a sense of pride and heritage to the area.
Project Neon – Interstate widening
AtkinsRéalis is working on Project Neon, the largest public works project to ever take place in Nevada, widening 3.7 miles of Interstate 15 (I-15) in downtown Las Vegas. As traffic is expected to double by 2035, this will improve a critical section of Nevada highway.
Is a career in transportation infrastructure right for you?
With an eye to the future and lots of exciting opportunities, transport planning jobs and project management jobs are in more demand than ever. Now is the time to start looking for careers in the dynamic and increasingly inclusive field of transportation infrastructure.
Start by browsing transportation jobs with AtkinsRéalis, and apply for available jobs in the USA. To keep up with new postings and find the right opportunities, sign up to the talent community.
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
10/11/2024
Summary
Hello. I'm Karen, a Senior Programme Manager in Project & Programme Services at AtkinsRéalis in the UK. Born to Ghanaian parents and raised in North London, my journey has been one of resilience
Preview
CanadaContent type
BlogsPublish date
10/10/2024
Summary
From engineering internships to leadership roles: My journey at AtkinsRéalis Discovering leadership through my civil engineering internships Allô, my name is Karolane. I work at AtkinsRéalis
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
10/08/2024
Summary
At AtkinsRéalis, we believe that sustainability is more than just a goal - it shapes everything we do. For over a decade, our team members, like the one you'll meet today, have b
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
10/02/2024
Summary
In the rapidly evolving world of energy, having the right foundation in nuclear and net zero energy is crucial. AtkinsRéalis stands at the forefront of this sector, offering abundant opportuniti
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
10/01/2024
Summary
We interviewed Turki Ghesheyan on his experience with the AtkinsRéalis Saudi Graduate Program. Tell us a little bit about yourself My name is Turki, I am an Architectural Engineer who graduated from
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
At AtkinsRéalis, we have a team of local, regional, and international experts in the UAE who are dedicated to delivering innovative solutions in the market to meet the needs of our clients. The UAE i
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
Hello, my name is Sherif, and I work at AtkinsRéalis in London. As a principal fire engineer, I'm proud to "engineer a better future" every day here, specifically as our work relates to shaping
Preview
EuropeContent type
ProjectsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
Hinkley Point C (HPC) is the first nuclear power station to be built in the UK since the 1990s. Technically complex and the country’s largest infrastructure project – our talented people from
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
Hi! I'm Alina, an associate director specialized in transport infrastructure engineering. I lead the North-West Estimating team in Project & Programme Services here in Manchester. Over the past
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/27/2024
Summary
Across the evolving landscape of the Middle East, Architects play a large part in designing and planning complex building structures that are in line with groundbreaking innovation. The constructio
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/24/2024
Summary
In the fast-paced world of consultancy, architecture, and project management, the need for forward-thinking leadership and innovative strategies has never been more critical. At AtkinsRéalis, we
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/13/2024
Summary
Hello, my name is Dilini! Two years ago, after completing my doctorate in structural fire engineering, I began practicing in the UK fire engineering industry. I'm proud to have contributed
Related jobs
We are sorry but we currently have no jobs in this area.
Continue browsing to look at our other available opportunities
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We’re devoted to growing the diversity of our people, promoting an inclusive culture, providing everyone with an equal voice because simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Click to learn more.
Find out more