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An Oregon construction executive has been named chairman of the board of directors of transportation research group TRIP.

Scott Williams of Hamilton Construction has served on the D.C. nonprofit’s board since 2003. TRIP (The Road Information Program) provides its reports and data to government agencies in support of infrastructure funding. Coburg-based Hamilton focuses on heavy road and bridge work and last year had gross billings of $150 million, according to a news release.

The year ahead will involve more highway construction, Williams said. After years of stalls and short-term fixes, Congress in December passed a funding package guaranteeing $305 billion for transportation projects over five years, which works out to an estimated 15 to 18 percent increase.

Effects of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act will lag a few months, Williams said, because it doesn’t make sense for an agency to have plans drawn up without funding available.

鈥淔AST is great, but it isn’t the long-term solution to highway funding because it’s all based on gas tax,鈥� he said.

As motor vehicles become more fuel-efficient and drivers spend less time on the road, government’s traditional method for funding infrastructure 鈥� the gas tax 鈥� has netted less and less money each year. Oregon last year began a long-anticipated to charge people based on miles driven. A limited number of drivers are taking part in the program. Williams said states and cities are increasingly looking to develop their own programs.