Senate Committee Passes Surface Transportation Bill
June 24, 2015
Today, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) unanimously approved a six-year, $278 billion federal highway portion of the surface transportation authorization bill, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act. The DRIVE Act was unveiled earlier this week by EPW Committee leaders Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member......
#FixTheTrustFund This Week: Keeping the U.S. from Driving into Potholes
June 22, 2015
The Highway Trust Fund (HTF) was set up in 1956 to fund the build and maintain a transportation network nationwide. Today, it is the national bank account for roads, bridges and transit that reimburses states for eligible projects. Inaction by Congress has put the Highway Trust Fund in jeopardy, and with a month left before......
June 19, 2015
This week the focus of Congressional tax committees was on how to properly fund our nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems. The federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is supported by current federal gasoline tax receipts, which have failed over time to keep up with current federal transportation spending. Therefore, the HTF is facing an $8 billion shortfall......
Final Inning for Highway Trust Fund Fix
June 05, 2015
With Congress back in session, the countdown for a long-term sustainable solution to fund transportation infrastructure is back on. At this point, lawmakers are in agreement that our infrastructure needs serious attention, yet Congress is in gridlock on finding a long-term solution. Underinvestment in infrastructure does not only lead to a growing backlog of maintenance,......
Win One (Gas Tax) for the Gipper
May 27, 2015
Summer reading lists of those in Washington, D.C. policy circles tend not to reflect titles that rank highly on the New York Times bestseller list. Case and point is a new work by Eno Center for Transportation senior fellow Jeff Davis, titled “Reagan Devolution: The Real Story of the 1982 Gas Tax Increase.” In the......
Trust Fund Patches Won’t Patch Potholes
May 22, 2015
Just in time for the start of summer travel and construction season, the Highway Trust Fund received yet another short-term extension this week. Congress has “punted” once again on passing a long-term highway and transit funding solution until July 31, 2015. This short-term patch is just the latest of temporary solution over the past six......
Congress Punts on Highway & Transit Improvements
May 21, 2015
To use a common football analogy, this week Congress decided to “punt” on finding a long-term highway and transit funding solution and reauthorizing federal surface transportation programs. In football, the purpose of punting is for a team to be in a better strategic position following a failed offensive effort. Congress might need to be reminded of this because......
Infrastructure Needs Crescendo
May 15, 2015
With major delays on the DC metro during rush hour, two train derailments, and Arizona’s state report card release, 15 days until the Highway Trust Fund expires, Infrastructure Week highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure through and a week of planned infrastructure awareness events and the unforeseen infrastructure problems. echo the pleas for a......
May 08, 2015
With the end of May approaching and no long-term transportation funding bill on the horizon, a short-term patch will likely be Congress’ next move. If you’re thinking this is de ja vu from last summer, you’re not alone. #TBT to a year ago when we heard a year would give “the space” to do a......
Flat Funding is Flat Outrageous
May 07, 2015
As the deadline to reauthorize the federal surface transportation bill nears, the measure of success for many involved seems to be maintaining the status quo. Last week, leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives began touting “flat funding” as an accomplishment that Congress must work to achieve. But it’s flat out not. Here are some......