Infrastructure and transportation has been a significant issue in US elections since at least 2008 (see below). Historically, democrats have sought significant public investment for infrastructure; republican proposals have preferred incentivizing private investment. So while everyone agrees that it needs to happen, partisanship prevents anything from happening.

Official Democratic & Republican Party Platforms: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php

Occurrances of the word "infrastructure" in party platforms:

2016 D: 23, R: 3

2012 D: 26, R: 11

2008 D: 28, R: 6

2004 D: 4, R: 12

2000 D: 5, R: 5

"Infrastructure" as...

Prominent Issue (i.e., specific paper or plan released):

Clinton 2016 -- https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/fixing-americas-infras...

Sanders 2016 -- https://berniesanders.com/issues/creating-jobs-rebuilding-am...

Trump 2016 -- (dead link) https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/an-americas-infrastruc...

Obama 2008 -- (dead link) http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/FactSheetTransportatio...

Minor Issue (i.e., some mention):

Romney 2012 -- https://grist.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/believeinamerica-p...

McCain 2008 -- (dead link) http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/CBCD3A48-4B0E-486...

Kerry 2004 -- http://www.4president.org/brochures/2004/johnkerry2004brochu...

Article comparing Obama/McCain 2008: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/6/589460/-