Faster Better Safer: Americans for Transportation Mobility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       Contact: Jessica Emond/ 202-778-1094
February 26, 2009                                                               This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

New Report Underscores Need to Change Federal Transportation Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Janet Kavinoky, Executive Director of the Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) Coalition, issued the following statement on today’s National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission report which gives Congress recommendations on how to finance federal surface transportation infrastructure spending:

“Any business that relies on our nation’s transportation system to deliver goods and services knows the truth in this important report: Our nation’s transportation infrastructure is broken, and we have not been investing enough money in roads, bridges and transit to fix it right. In SAFETEA-LU reauthorization continuing the status quo is not an option. It is imperative that Congress lays the groundwork for new revenue sources for federal government funding of its share the nation’s critical highway and transit improvements.

“We need increased and sustained federal transportation funding to build a 21st Century transportation infrastructure for our 21st Century economy. The Commission is correct: in the near term all funding options must be on the table to remedy this national challenge if we are to fix our aging infrastructure and make the needed improvements, including an increase in the gas tax and other user fees dedicated to highways and transit projects that will improve and sustain our economy.

“But more funding isn’t enough to solve the problem. Congress must make long-term transportation planning and investing in transportation a priority and develop legislation that provides policy and programmatic reforms that ensure money is used for needed projects and not wasteful spending.”

“Congress and the Obama Administration have a big agenda ahead of them. The nearly $40 billion in highway and transit investment included in the stimulus package will help create jobs in the short-term while helping strengthen the transportation system that moves goods and services in our economy. However, the funding in the economic recovery bill will cover only a very small share of what is needed to maintain, modernize and expand highway and transit infrastructure and will not address the systemic crisis the nation faces in its surface transportation infrastructure investment.

“The most immediate need is to address the projected shortfall in the Federal Highway Trust Fund as soon as possible. Current funding levels can’t sustain, let alone rebuild, our nation’s infrastructure, and without changes, highways are facing 50% funding cut in 2010 and transit faces the same cuts in 2011. In fact, Congress is likely going to have to fix the Highway Trust Fund as early as July of this year. Last year, Congress waited until the last possible second to ensure that the investments promised would be made; it is irresponsible and unnecessary to wait that long again.

“In public policy, good planning beats prayer any day, especially when jobs are at stake. There is no reason to wait – put provisions in place soon to make sure that we don’t have to play a game of chicken.”

ABOUT US: The Americans for Transportation Mobility Coalition is a nationwide effort by business, labor, transportation organizations and concerned citizens to advocate for increased federal investment in the nation’s aging and overburdened transportation system. For more information, please visit us at: www.fasterbettersafer.org.