I’d like to introduce a man who is bent on rebuilding America’s infrastructure; a man I know well enough to say that if I were a grunt on the ground I’d follow him into battle.

T. Peter Ruane, Ph.D., is the president and CEO of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). This chief is a hard-charging, straight-shooting former Marine who does not suffer fools. Yet, he has a cool head. I met Pete six years ago when he and his troops introduced me to the biorhythms of our nation’s transportation legislation. It was the fall of 2003, the start of the previous legislative process for reauthorization, as well as an important step for me. Allow me to disclose:

Just as TEA-21 was up for renewal, Barnes & Noble published my book, “The Roads That Built America: The Incredible Story of the U.S. Interstate System.” Looking for an appropriate partner in promotion, I contacted ARTBA. That effort put me on the phone with Matt Jeanneret, ARTBA’s head of communications, who recommended I take a trip to D.C., to meet with Pete.

Walking down a long corridor on my way to Pete’s corner office, Jeanneret explained that Pete’s actions sometimes ran counter to the wants of those in power. Making his point, he explained, “Pete got a call from Karl Rove on Air Force One the other day.” Evidently, Rove was upset about Pete’s recent media appearances agitating for federal investments in transportation. My respect for Pete spiked.

McNichol surveys his ’51 Hudson Pacemaker Dan McNichol

We struck a deal. I would promote my book while driving back-and-forth across the country in a 1951 Hudson Pacemaker (the car’s name predates the medical device), and ARTBA was in charge of media coverage. We eventually agreed on the route. I wanted as straight a line as possible — this, I hoped, would increase the chance of successfully traversing 12,000 miles in an antique. Even still, Pete and Matt managed to direct my travel through key congressional districts.

Along the way, we shed light on the world’s largest construction project, Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway System, and encouraged people to stick to the “big roads” that made up the safest highway system in the world. We also persuaded those with power to do more, and those with votes to make sure it happened. Books were sold and messages received. The book went paperback a year later in part because of ARTBA’s plugging. It was a rare win-win-win.

Since our excellent adventure, my appreciation for ARTBA has widened. Make no mistake, ARTBA is a powerful lobbying group with a single interest: federal investment in transportation.

But to understand what ARTBA is, it’s best to see what it is not. ARTBA is not a promoter of one type of building material over another. It does not represent political leaders or governmental bodies. ARTBA is not single modal — it’s road centric, yes, but it also promotes rail, runways, and waterways. ARTBA’s members are not idealists, but rather political practitioners operating inside the Beltway, which is appropriate given their agenda.

Making legislation can make sausage production pretty. But agitators versed in the vernacular of reconstruction are critical at this juncture. Lobbying is a democratic reality and ARTBA’s voice is one that needs to be heard. It’s no surprise that despite occasional differences, Pete has called on his membership to have-the-back of another man bent on rebuilding America’s infrastructure: Jim Oberstar, the long-time crusader for transportation legislation.

“There is no greater transportation champion in Congress than Chairman Oberstar,” Ruane says. “It’s a cliché to say, but our industry needs to have Chairman Oberstar’s back.” I couldn’t agree more. Now that this senior statesman is out in front, leading the charge, it’s our duty to follow.

Dan McNichol is a highly acclaimed author, journalist, and speaker. He welcomes your comments at dan@danmcnichol.com.