Highway/Transit Reauthorization and Critical Commerce Corridors

A New Vision & Mission for America's Federal Surface Transportation Program

ARTBA recommendations for Highway/Transit Reauthorization:

Critical Commerce Corridors

There is currently no comprehensive strategic initiative to address America's freight challenges and handle the expected doubling of truck traffic in the next 25 years. Once again, strong federal leadership is necesary to fill this policy void. To complement the expanded investments in existing federal highway and transit programs, and to be considered as part of SAFETEA-LU reauthorization, ARTBA is calling for the creation of a bold new program - Critical Commerce Corridors (3C) to provide new surface transportation system capacity and operational improvements exclusively focused on securing the safe and efficient movement of freight.

  • Critical Commerce Corridors Video - 7:17 min.

In Congress

Testimony

2011:

2010:

2009:

Reports & Studies

The Role of Private Investment in Meeting U.S. Transportation Infrastructure Needs

In May 2011, the Transportation Development Foundation (TDF) commissioned a paper by William Reinhardt, 23-year P3 observer, publisher, and editor of "Public Works Financing" newsletter to provide an overview of transportation public-private partnerships.  This work summarizes Reinhardt's views on what we've learned from two decades' experience and recommendations for increasing private investment in transportation projects going forward.

Well Within Reach: America's New Transportation Agenda

In October 2010, the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia released a concluding report on a conference of transportation experts, including ARTBA President and CEO Pete Ruane, headed up by former U.S. Transportation Secretaries Norman Mineta and Samuel Skinner. The report calls for a robust increase in investment in transportation at all levels of government and endorses: increasing the federal gas tax; transitioning to a vehicle miles traveled fee in the future; adopting a capital budget; and encouraging public-private partnerships. This marks at least the fourth major panel in the last three years to call for increasing the current gas tax, while exploring ways to implement new user fee mechanism in the near future.

On A Crash Course: The Dangers & Health Costs of Deficient Roadway Conditions

More than half of U.S. highway fatalities are related to deficient roadway conditions – a substantially more lethal factor than drunk driving, speeding or non-use of safety belts – according to a landmark study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), which was released July 1, 2009. The study was commissioned by the Transportation Construction Coalition. It also found that 10 roadway-related crashes occur every minute (5.3 million a year) and also contribute to 38 percent of non-fatal injuries.

In revealing that deficiencies in the roadway environment contributed to more than 22,000 fatalities and cost the nation more than $217 billion annually, PIRE concluded that making the roadway environment more protective and forgiving is essential to reducing highway fatalities and costs.