On Sept. 12, Building America’s Future (BAF) announced a new, publicly navigable map that gathers data from the organization’s “I’m Stuck” app to create a visual representation of where citizens are feeling the worst delays due to the poor conditions of America’s highways, roads and bridges.
The map, which can be accessed via BAF’s website (http://www.bafuture.com/maps/where-americans-are-stuck) displays an aggregation of reports to Congress from Americans who have found themselves ‘Stuck,’ whether it is on a highway, a tarmac, a subway, bus or train. Each report is identified by geographic location, and labeled based upon the type of delay experienced. Many of the reports also feature user-uploaded photos to show the status of a particular delay.
“Building America’s Future created this app so that frustrated travelers could send a message to Congress – directly from a traffic jam or the tarmac – to show how an underinvestment in America’s roads and rails creates congestion and gridlock on a daily basis,” said Building America’s Future President Marcia Hale. “I’m Stuck allows Americans to effectively communicate this message to their lawmakers with just a tap of their fingers.”
“Leaders in Washington cannot hear often enough that our infrastructure is descending into crisis—not just for the convenience of the citizenry, but for the U.S. economy,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “The ‘I’m Stuck’ map is another great tool to demonstrate that these problems afflict every corner of the country, and deserve the full attention of every member of Congress.”
The free “I’m Stuck” app was created by Building America’s Future in partnership with the U.S. Travel Association to give delayed commuters and travelers a way to communicate their frustration directly to their U.S. Representative or Senator. The app immediately emails a user’s Member of Congress with details about a particular delay, as a way to display the real-world, everyday gridlock caused by America’s lack of funding for infrastructure and transportation.
Since the app was created, “I’m Stuck” has been downloaded more than 15,000 times and more than 8,700 emails have been sent to Congress by “I’m Stuck” users.
