The Coalition for Smarter Transportation Expresses Support for the Bi-Partisan ‘America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act’
The Bipartisan Reauthorization of the Highway Title Increases Funding for Highway Provisions by 27% and includes numerous provisions that will make our transportation system smarter and more resilient.
(Washington, DC) The Coalition for Smarter Transportation (CoaST) issued the following statement of support for the Bi-Partisan ‘America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act’. This important legislation will reauthorize the highway portions of the FAST Act and will increase funding by 27%. This bi-partisan legislation authored by Chairman Barrasso (R-WY) as well as Ranking Member Carper (D-DE), Senator Capito (R-WV), and Senator Cardin (D-MD) includes numerous provisions that will make our transportation system smarter and more resilient including:
- Creation of a Congestion Relief program that will provide municipal governments with funding to address the crippling impact that congestion has on our economy. The funding will be used to develop regional solutions to congestion.
- Creation of a Carbon Emission Reduction Program that will provide State and local governments funding to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector, including reducing single-occupancy vehicles and vehicle miles traveled.
- Establishment of Performance Incentive programs that will support safety projects and carbon emission reduction programs.
- Increase investment in innovation and research including growing the University Transportation Center program and creation of an open research initiative that will increase opportunities for parties to submit research ideas to USDOT.
The legislation includes the input of many Members of the Committee. CoaST would like to thank the bi-partisan efforts of all Members of the Committee and would like to especially thank Senator Duckworth (D-IL) for her efforts to establish a congestion reduction program.
CoaST’s Policy Director Jason Pavluchuk had the following to say:
“The challenge facing Congress is not just writing a smarter transportation bill, but funding one. However, this legislation includes something for everyone and is an excellent demonstration of bipartisanship. In reviewing this bill, I believe that stakeholders representing a wide spectrum of the industry will not just follow the bill, rather they will work to find a way to fund the bill and that is what will eventually bring this legislation over the finish line.”
While this is a great start, this legislation is not perfect. We look forward to working with the Committee to strengthen and grow the congestion section including the creation of a formula program.
CoaST has developed a reauthorization resource page that includes a variety of information and tools on the infrastructure: http://www.smartertransportation.org/fast-act-re-authorization-resource-center/
