ARTBA “Critical Commerce Corridors” Proposal
Will Address Freight Mobility and Congestion Challenges Outlined in New GAO Report

Contacts:
Jeff Solsby 202-289-4434		Print this page

Washington, D.C. [Jan. 18, 2008]—The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) “Critical Commerce Corridors” or “3C” national freight mobility proposal will address key infrastructure efficiency and congestion challenges outlined in a January 7 report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent investigative, audit and research arm of the U.S. Congress. According to the report, “there is no strategy or clearly defined federal role in transportation generally and in freight transportation specifically, despite a clear federal interest in freight transportation stemming from Congress’ constitutional role to regulate interstate commerce and freight transportation’s effect on the national economy.”

ARTBA has proposed just such a plan as part of the SAFETEA-LU federal surface transportation law reauthorization. Debate on the law, which expires next year, will begin in Congress this year. ARTBA’s “3C” plan is focused on creating new highway capacity, intermodal, inland waterway and seaport connectors, and upgraded border and gateway facilities to help speed the movement of freight. Under the ARTBA proposal, the U.S. DOT would be charged with coordinating development of a 25-year “3C” strategic business plan, identifying projects for development on a regional basis, setting completion priorities, and establishing cost estimates.

ARTBA suggests the “3C” program could be launched by addressing some 200 choke points on U.S. interstate highways identified by the U.S. DOT. It also envisions utilization of existing interstate highway right of way with tunneling and overhead structures where appropriate, for development of new freight and passenger rail capacity and “truck-only” lanes. A number of new corridors that would facilitate international freight movements, such as those noted in the GAO report, have already been identified by state coalitions.

The “3C” proposal has already been endorsed by the National Asphalt Pavement Association, American Concrete Pavement Association, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, and Portland Cement Association. Nearly 75 ARTBA volunteer leaders from the public and private sectors worked over 16 months to develop the association’s SAFETEA-LU reauthorization report, including the “3C” proposal.

In addition to creating the 3C program, ARTBA has proposed reforming, refocusing, restructuring and refinancing the existing “core” federal highway and surface transportation programs, including dramatically increased program revenues. Recognizing additional resources alone will not solve transportation challenges, the association has developed a series of specific operational recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing programs.

GAO recommended to Congress the U.S. DOT should work with public and private stakeholders to develop a national strategy to improve freight mobility to address adverse economic, environmental and health impacts while also predicting that goods movement by truck will increase 98 percent by 2035. The GAO report suggests existing and new federal revenue sources should be used to support federal investments in freight improvements. It also points out the importance of a national freight program due to the inabilities of local and regional organizations to plan for freight movements beyond their boundaries and secure funding for freight projects, which have more of a national or regional significance, over state-specific projects.

ARTBA’s full 72-page SAFETEA-LU reauthorization report, 16-page executive summary and corresponding “3C” video introduction are available in the “government affairs” section of http://www.artba.org. A copy of the January 7 GAO report on freight mobility is available under the “reports and testimony” section of http://www.gao.gov.

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Established in 1902, ARTBA represents the U.S. transportation design and construction industry before Congress, the Executive Branch, federal agencies, news media and general public.