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The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) today released its analysis of the Obama Administration’s budget proposal for the fiscal year 2013.

According to the analysis, the budget, which was sent to Congress on Monday, proposes the U.S. government invest $74.5 billion in transportation improvements this year – an increase of $1.7 billion over the amount invested in 2011 and close to $1.9 billion above the amount enacted for 2012.

Within that total, a six-year investment of $476 billion is proposed for surface transportation, which includes highways, public transportation, passenger rail and highway safety.

Different from last year, the administration identified a funding source for its proposed investments in highways and public transportation: budgetary savings resulting from the winding-down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last year, the administration stated that it would have to work with Congress to identify the resources needed to finance its proposal.

While this year’s investment total for surface transportation may seem significantly less than last year’s $556 billion recommendation, the ARTBA points out that last year’s total also included the proposed $50 billion for the Immediate Transportation Investment and $30 billion for the National Infrastructure Bank – neither of which are in this year’s reauthorization proposal.

The budget also reiterates multiple program changes recommended last year, including collapsing 55 current highway programs into five programs that would give states and localities more flexibility with federal highway funds.

To read the ARTBA’s full analysis of the budget, go .