States Are Back in Session and Infrastructure Is on the Agenda
January 22, 2018
All eyes are on the federal government as the country waits for President Trump to unveil his long-awaited infrastructure plan. In the meantime, we have seen state after state step up and do their part to fill in the investment gap. Some states, such as Oregon and California, have recently implemented gas taxes to fund......
December 29, 2017
Between the release of the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, the implementation of a gas tax in states across the country, and waiting for President Trump’s highly-anticipated infrastructure plan, 2017 has been a full year for ASCE. Take a look at our 5 most read blog posts from 2017: 1. Legislation to Create National Infrastructure Bank Reintroduced......
Truckers Support an Increased Motor Fuels Tax
December 11, 2017
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released an assessment of the nation’s transportation funding options, an update to its original research in 2007, to identify the best revenue sources for our transportation network. In addition to ATRI, other industry stakeholders have offered alternative revenue sourcing options. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials......
Tax Legislation Hurts Infrastructure, Engineers
November 28, 2017
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is concerned that Congress has missed a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the nation’s infrastructure investment gap. Earlier this month, Congress began the process of crafting tax-cut legislation. The House Ways and Means Committee drafted H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which passed out of committee and......
Congressman Larson Introduces the “America Wins Act”
November 14, 2017
Earlier this month, Congressman John Larson (D-CT) introduced H.R.4209, the America Wins Act – a bill which would invest $1 trillion, through taxing harmful pollution, in our infrastructure over a decade. Under this legislation, $400 billion will be invested in existing federal highway programs and eliminate the $138 billion Highway Trust Fund (HTF) shortfall; $100......
Outdated Gas Tax Rate Still Propping Up America’s Transportation Infrastructure
October 23, 2017
This month marks the 24th anniversary of the federal gas tax’s outdated 18.4-cent rate enacted on October 1st, 1993. First established in 1932, the gas tax goes toward the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) – the federal fund that pays for bridges, roads, and transit. The federal gas tax rate has been raised numerous times since......
Poll Says It All—Most Americans Willing to Pay More at the Pump
July 25, 2017
From structurally deficient bridges to dilapidated roads, there’s no question our infrastructure suffers from a lack of funding. Fortunately, most Americans are now willing to pay to reverse this trend. According to a recent Bloomberg national poll, 55 percent of Americans say they would pay a higher gas tax to repair their infrastructure. Even more......
ARTBA Convenes Workshop on Funding Success Stories
July 18, 2017
States have been stepping up to better fund transportation. On July 12, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Transportation Investment Advocacy Center held its fourth Annual National Workshop for State & Local Transportation Advocates, which explored how states are getting it done. The day-long meeting featured transportation investment champions from around the country.......
Oregon Legislature and Governor Reach Compromise on Gas Tax Increase
July 14, 2017
Oregon once again finds itself at the forefront of gas tax increases. The state was the first to levy a gas tax, in 1919. Ever since it has been innovative in its funding of transportation, including through the OreGo vehicle miles traveled pilot program. This year’s legislative activity continues the trend. Bringing its 2017 Legislative......
Majority of House Signs Letter Asking to Fix the Highway Trust Fund
June 13, 2017
Yesterday 253 congressmen sent a letter to the leadership of the House Ways & Means Committee asking that a long-term fix for Highway Trust Fund be included in their tax reform efforts. “As the Committee on Ways and Means continues to work toward a much-needed update of the U.S. tax code, you have an opportunity......
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