Many business groups expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of dedicated funding for the Highway Trust Fund in President Donald Trump's infrastructure plan, which relies heavily on local funding, tolls and private investment to reach the stated $1.5 trillion spending goal. But they praised the streamlined permitting process Trump proposed.

The American Trucking Associations went furthest, denouncing in a statement what it called the plan's "fake funding" while praising the president for backing infrastructure spending. The association and others, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Road & Transportation Builders and National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, support an increase in the federal gas tax to replenish the trust fund. ATA also opposes increased reliance on tolls.

"A proposal that relies on fake funding schemes like highway tolls and privatizing rest areas will not generate the revenue necessary to make significant infrastructure improvements," ATA CEO Chris Spear said in the statement.

In an interview with CEO Update, ATA CEO Chris Spear praised the president for advancing an infrastructure plan, but said without dedicated funding, the proposal would not win the required 60 votes in the U.S. Senate.

"We've had a lot of conversations with (the White House)," Spear said. "They knew our view on tolling going in to this. You're not going to toll your way to $1.5 trillion."

The American Public Transportation Association, Association of American Railroads, ARTBA, American Iron and Steel Institute, and Associated Equipment Distributors also highlighted the need for dedicated revenue for infrastructure.

The latter three, along with 28 other associations and labor unions, are members of the Transportation Construction Coalition, which said in a statement the administration was taking "two steps forward (and) one, or more, steps back."

The National Association of Truck Stop Owners said it would oppose key provisions of the plan, including privatization of rest stops and increased tolling. The group said allowing more restaurants and gas stations at highway rest stops will hurt its members, who operate private truck stops near highways.

Energy groups such as the American Petroleum Institute, the Natural Gas Supply Association and the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, in separate statements, did not address gas taxes but praised the accelerated permitting process.

"We applaud this initiative to simplify and streamline the permit approval process for infrastructure, which has become a long and unnecessarily unwieldy process for all," said NGSA CEO Dena Wiggins.

The American Investment Council, which represents private equity firms, had unreserved praise for the plan. Its members would benefit from an increased reliance on tolls as a way to foster private investment.

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