Road builders want transportation plank in party platforms

Ruane made a similar argument to the chairman of the RNC.

"The policy platform of the first Republican National Convention, held at Philadelphia at 1856, placed heavy emphasis on infrastructure," he wrote to RNC Chairman Priebus. "That platform document included a call to begin building a transcontinental railroad to the Pacific, committing the federal government to 'render immediate and efficient aid in its construction.'"

In addition to nominating President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to compete in the general election in the fall, Democrats and Republicans will ratify platforms of their party positions when they convene Aug. 27-30 and Sept. 3-6.

Advocates and interest groups for various issues will push officials in both parties to make bold declarations in their 2012 platforms, but Ruane said it would not be a reach for either party to include a transportation plank.

"Infrastructure investment is a vital mission of the federal government - both for economic and national security," he wrote to both Priebus and Wasserman-Schultz.