May 18, 2015 -- A new report that evaluates the current condition, safety, use and funding of America's rural roads and bridges will be released during a teleconference on Tuesday, May 19 at 11:00 EDT. The report is being released by TRIP, a national nonprofit transportation research group based in Washington, DC.

The report, "Rural Connections: Challenges and Opportunities in America's Heartland," evaluates the safety and condition of roads and bridges serving America's rural communities, which are a critical source of the nation's energy, food and fiber, and finds that the nation's rural transportation system is in need of improvements to address deficient roads and bridges, high crash rates, and inadequate connectivity and capacity. TRIP's report identifies states with the highest rate of rural pavements in poor condition, states with the highest share of structurally deficient rural bridges and those with the highest fatality rates on rural roads.

Rocky Moretti, TRIP's director of research and policy and the author of the report, will present the findings of the report during the teleconference. Additional speakers will also comment on the report.

WHEN: 11:00 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, May 19

ACCESS: U.S. Toll Free: 800-874-4559
Canadian Toll Free: 800-696-0876
International Toll: 302-607-2019
Verbal Passcode: TURM53023
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WHO:
Kathleen Bower, Vice President of Public Affairs
AAA

Veronica Nigh, Economist
American Farm Bureau Federation

Erik Hansen, Senior Director for Domestic Policy
General Manager, Connecting America Through Travel
U.S. Travel Association

Rocky Moretti, Director of Research & Policy
TRIP

Contacts:
Rocky Moretti
202.262.0714 (cell)

Carolyn Bonifas Kelly(TRIP)
703.801.9212 (cell)