Final Inning for Highway Trust Fund Fix
June 5th, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
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, but also a drag on the economy. If Congress does not increase investment in the next long-term surface transportation bill, our aging roads, bridges and transit will become an even greater drag on our economy. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explains how poor transportation infrastructure harms businesses, who rely on roads and highways to transport goods in a timely, cost-effective way. This article discusses how road congestion affects businesses by hindering the movement of supplies and lengthening workers’ daily commutes. An effective supply chain relies upon a reliable transportation network, which in turn bolsters the economy. Legislation to raise the federal gas tax, like the bipartisan Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act, would index the gas tax to future inflation and provide Congress strong incentive to bring our transportation costs and revenue under control by creating an automatic revenue increase if Congress fails to act in a year. In a recent CNBC op-ed, Reid Ribble explained that the only way to address our $16 billion annual shortfall is to either cut costs or raise revenues, making a federal gas tax increase the most attractive option. Business Insider emphasized that the Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act is supported by a diverse group of organizations that rely on infrastructure to do business, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The American Trucking Association and The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). On another note, states are flexing their creative muscles to come up with ways to fund their infrastructure needs. In Oregon, ODOT has created a new program called OReGO, which will be the first tested vehicle miles traveled program in the nation. Volunteers will be charged 1.5 cents per mile and will be offered a tax credit reimbursing them for the 31-cent-per-gallon Oregon gas tax. Though Oregonians are excited about this new program, they remain resolved that the federal government find a long-term, sustainable funding solution. With time once again running out, it is critical that Congress feels the pressure to come up with a long-term, sustainable funding solution and passes a multi-year bill by the end of July. If you want to get involved, please write your members of Congress and let them know why America needs a fix to the Highway Trust Fund.Tags: gas tax, highway trust fund
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Win One (Gas Tax) for the Gipper
May 27th, 2015 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
President Reagan Signs the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, January 6, 1983
Tags: economics, failure to act, infrastructure, infrastructure report card, transportation
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Trust Fund Patches Won't Patch Potholes
May 22nd, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
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 years. The Atlantic discussed Congress’ short-term patch response to extending the Highway Trust Fund another two months as a bipartisan issue. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) told the Huffington Post that his own party was to blame for the absence of long-term solution and that a “true conservative” would support federal spending for roads and bridges. With funds dwindling, states are worried about the lack of federal funding for summer construction projects, announcing that construction projects like the Ashford Avenue Bridge Project and $36 million worth of projects in Montana could suffer if the Federal Highway Trust Fund expires. Wisconsin Public Radio used the recent Amtrak derailment to underscore the importance of addressing our nation’s infrastructure needs. ASCE’s Senior Managing Director Casey Dinges, who spoke on the program, stressed the importance of learning from past infrastructure calamities, noting that, “those events do capture the public’s attention, and regardless of the causes of some of these incidences, it does create an opportunity for people to talk about infrastructure needs.” With Memorial Day approaching May 25, our highway, bridge and aviation infrastructure will be put to the test. AAA Mid-Atlantic expects more than 800,000 area residents to be traveling at least 50 miles between Thursday and Monday, which is the most for any Memorial Day weekend in a decade. The increased number of vehicles on the nation’s deteriorating highways will undoubtedly also have safety implications. According to ASCE’s Report Card, roadway conditions are a significant factor in approximately one-third of all U.S. traffic fatalities and cost the U.S. economy $230 billion each year. In addition to roads, air transportation is also in need of tremendous investment and modernization. The House of Representatives released a report of U.S. airports, showing how they have failed to keep up with passenger capacity needs. The report highlights the significant challenges airports face during peak travel periods and delays due to inclement weather. Despite these unresolved issues, passenger fees continue to rise. Upgrade My Airport has released a petition to persuade Congress to upgrade our airports. Because infrastructure affects each one of us every day it is critical that Congress feels the pressure to come up with a long-term, sustainable funding solution and pass a multiyear bill by the end of July. If you want to get involved, please write to members of Congress why they need to fix the Highway Trust Fund.Tags: 2013 Report Card, aviation, highway trust fund, roads
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Congress Punts on Highway & Transit Improvements
May 21st, 2015 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Congress decides to “punt” on finding a long-term transportation funding solution
Tags: congress, highway trust fund, infrastructure, transportation
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Infrastructure Needs Crescendo
May 15th, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
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 sustainable funding solution. After an Amtrak train derailed on along the Northeast Corridor Tuesday night killing eight and injuring over 200 people, our nation’s rail infrastructure was thrust into the spotlight. Despite the exact causes for the derailment, which are still unknown, the incident prompted a national conversation about the need to increase investment into our infrastructure. Outlets including International Business Times ,CNBC and Slate discussed the derailment in the context of our aging infrastructure needs, quoting ASCE’s Infrastructure Report Card recommendation to “improve passenger rail in dense urban corridor markets and as an alternative to air and automobile travel for intercity markets.” Even if poor rail conditions didn’t cause the derailment, ASCE agrees that a better-funded and maintained system could have prevented it. According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Amtrak is expected to “quadruple its total ridership by 2040,” yet the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee cut Amtrak funding by $252 million this week. While derailments like Tuesday’s have numerous causation factors, infrastructure increased investment is necessary to modernize the system regardless. In addition to Amtrak, 11 to 13 cars from a freight train derailed on Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pa., causing traffic backups. Though this incident did not cause any injuries, the damage expenses reflect the need for better investment upfront. The Washington Post explores the cost of delaying infrastructure repairs and contrasts it with the opportunity investing in infrastructure creates. point to the need for a long-term, sustainable funding solution as Improving the current planning and funding process would not only necessary for maintenance but a way to enhance our nation’s competitiveness, sustainable footprint and create up to an estimated 2 million jobs, the author argues. The Arizona Report Card advocates for keeping infrastructure in a state of good repair because of how important it is to our daily lives. Further, the report underscores the need to invest in smart projects that will support Arizona’s expected population growth and make the state even more economically competitive. Due to infrastructure needs becoming more visibly apparent, states like Arizona have released a state infrastructure report card to carefully evaluate their nation’ infrastructure needs. For Arizona, the infrastructure report card helps them determine which infrastructure sectors need the most investment. From DC’s Metro delays on Monday morning, to state DOTs warning what is at stake if Congress does not fix the Highway Trust Fund , this week shows it’s time for Congress to come together in a bipartisan fashion and Given the Highway Trust Fund’s impending insolvency, it is more critical than ever that Congress work together to pass legislation to that provides a sustainable, long-term funding solution to #FixTheTrustFund.Tags: highway trust fund, infrastructure report card, rail
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The Clock Ticks Louder
May 8th, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Photo Credit: SDOT Photos
In Missouri, the state gas tax has not been raised in 20 years, despite construction costs rising by 200 percent. Because Missouri has 1,600 bridges that are more than 75 years old, lack of funding is a growing issue. After an emergency bridge closure disrupted traffic flow this week, Governor Jay Nixon encouraged lawmakers to pass a bill that would increase the tax on motor fuels by 1.5 cents and the diesel tax by 3.5 cents. Without action, the governor said Missouri won’t have enough revenue to match federal dollars, which means the state will not see needed repairs, resulting in more traffic, and fewer jobs. In Nebraska, the unicameral legislature passed a 6-cent gas tax increase over four years, Legislative Bill 610, Gov. Ricketts promptly vetoed the bill, which now returns to the legislature for a likely override. In Michigan, Proposition 1, which would have increased the state gas tax and raised $1.3 billion for road maintenance, was vehemently rejected, leaving Michiganders left with poor road conditions and back at the drawing board to increase investments. On a positive note, in Washington state, both the House and Senate have passed separate bills to increase state transportation funding. The House plan gives Sound Transit authorization to ask voters for up to $15 billion to extend its light-rail system, and House democrats want to continue using some sales-tax revenue collected from construction projects for the general fund. The Senate plan would authorize up to $11 billion, and would funnel that money back to transportation projects. Right now there is no certainty over which plan will prevail. Both plans include similar highway, bridge and pedestrian projects and raise about $15 billion over 16 years by gradually increasing the gas tax to 11.7 cents. Next week is Infrastructure Week, which could not come at a more opportune time as Congress has 22 days until the highway and transit policy expires. It is crucial these conversations lead to action that ensures a sustainable, long-term funding solution to #FixTheTrustFund.#TBT to a year ago when we heard a year would give “the space” to do a long-term bill. It’s time to #fixthetrustfund pic.twitter.com/x5dzY4IGFf
— Senator Tom Carper (@SenatorCarper) May 7, 2015
Flat Funding is Flat Outrageous
May 7th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
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 of the things that will happen if Congress simply continues the status quo over the next few years, from ASCE’s economic study on transportation:- It will cost each American family’s budget $1,060 every year through at least 2020
- America will lose more than 876,000 jobs by 2020
- 234,000 jobs will force workers to take paycuts in 2020
- S. exports will drop by $28 billion in total by 2020
- America’s GDP will underperform by $897 billion in total by 2020
A multiyear bill that continues the same amount of funding we’ve had since 2005 through SAFETEA-Lu is the opposite of aspiration. It will not help improve our low Report Card grades for surface transportation, and will do little to strengthen the economy. However, there is a way to not only fill the funding hole of the Highway Trust Fund but also grow the system. By increasing the federal gas tax, we can start investing in the projects America needs to have in place in order to continue to compete globally in the21st century. Every state has dozens of new construction projects that they would like to make a reality if they only had increased investment from all levels of government. Here’s our chance.
To fill the current federal funding gap and grow the federal Highway Trust Fund to address current documented needs, Congress should raise the gas tax by at least 20 cents. This would be the first increase since 1993, and the bump would recoup what has been lost due to inflation and increase funding. For the average driver, it will cost about $187 more a year*. In contrast, right now each motorist is paying $324 a year in additional repairs and operating costs. In addition, Americans spend an average 34 hours a year stuck in traffic, costing the U.S. economy $101 billion in wasted fuel and lost time annually. It’s a savings for your wallet by staying out of the auto mechanic shop. It’s an even bigger savings as it protects that $1,060 mentioned above.
There is a lot at stake if we merely continue with the same level of funding of the past 10 years for the next five. It will hurt your personal finances, hurt our already aging transportation system and do little to benefit our economy. Let’s increase our investment so that Congress truly fixes the Trust Fund in a way that allows us to modernize our transportation system.
Join ASCE in telling your Senators and Representative that you expect their leadership in passing a long-term, sustainable fix to the Highway Trust Fund that includes an increased investment to modernize the transportation system.
*calculated based on 18 gallon tank x 20 cents x 52 fill-ups a year (once a week)
Tags: gas tax, highway trust fund, surface transportation
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Highway Trust Fund Insolvency: 30 Days and Counting
May 1st, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
There has been much discussion on Capitol Hill and throughout the nation about increasing funding for infrastructure. From highways to transit to ports, our nation depends on infrastructure to thrive. Though federal lawmakers are once again looking toward a short-term funding patch for the beleaguered Highway Trust Fund, ASCE continues to advocate for a long-term, sustainable funding solution. There have been several bills proposed by legislators in the past few months. The Update Act and Repatriation bill are two proposals that have garnered considerable media attention. In USA Today, Rep. Paul Ryan lauded the Repatriation bill, aimed at lowering the tax rate on overseas profits earned by U.S. corporations and using the tax revenue for the Highway Trust Fund, as part of a permanent reform going from a worldwide system to a “more internationally competitive exemption system.” ASCE supports these bills to fund surface transportation; however neither proposal has gained significant traction or bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill. According to a recent poll by Mineta Transportation Institute, 71 percent of voters would be willing to pay a dime more than the current 18.4 cents-per-gallon gas tax if the money is spent on “projects to maintain streets, roads and highways.” In contrast to funding patches, raising the federal gas tax would be a stable source of direct funding for transportation infrastructure. While things at the federal level seem to have stalled, in Michigan voters will soon vote on Proposition 1, which would increase the state sales tax by 1 percent to generate around $1.2 billion a year for roads and at least $107 million annually for public transit and passenger rail. These state and federal propositions are steps in the right direction for restoring our nation’s transportation infrastructure. Given the Highway Trust Fund’s impending insolvency, it is more critical than ever that Congress work together to pass legislation to provide a sustainable, long-term funding solution to #FixTheTrustFund.Majority of Americans Say Yes to Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation
April 30th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
In the debate on how to best fix the Highway Trust Fund, often times lawmakers shy away from the most direct funding source: a raise to the federal gas tax. Its last increase was in 1993, and since that time it has lost a third of its purchasing power. While many states have taken bipartisan action in the past few years to better fund their roads, bridges, and transit using this method, federal lawmakers have continued to be reluctant as previous research has indicated opposition to an increase. However, a new research poll shows that a majority of voters would support an increase to the gas tax, so long as it goes toward better transportation infrastructure. The study, released by the Mineta Transportation Institute, found 69 percent of respondents willing to pay a 10-cent per gallon increase for improved road maintenance. In addition to supporting an increased investment in roads and bridges, two-thirds of respondents also agreed that some gas tax revenues should go toward transit, as most people want good public transit service in their state. As Congress must act by May 31 to reauthorize the surface transportation law, this new study demonstrates that voters support finding the needed funding through an increase to the gas tax. While the 10-cent increase tested in this research would not grow our system in the future, it can act as a springboard to improve America’s roads, bridges, and transit. The bottom line: Americans want better transportation and they are willing to pay for it.Tags: bridges, gas tax, highway trust fund, public transit, roads
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Ideas to Fix the Trust Fund
April 17th, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Congress returned to Washington this week after a two week recess, facing a new level of urgency to Fix the Highway Trust Fund before last summer’s extension ends on May 31. A few members of Congress wasted no time upon their return to the Hill to start raising this issue and offering their solutions. On Thursday a bipartisan group of House members filed legislation to increase the federal gas tax to match inflation in order to finance our much-needed transportation investment. The Bridge to Sustainable Infrastructure Act would increase the gas tax to recoup its purchasing power, thus generating $27.5 billion that can be used to pay for nearly two years’ worth of transportation. In the release announcement explaining what prompted the lawmakers to propose this solution, Reps. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio), Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Reid Ribble (R-Wis.), and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) explained “We refuse to pass on the liability of our deteriorating roads and bridges to our children and grandchildren. The longer we wait to fix our crumbling infrastructure, the more it will cost in the long-run,” in a joint statement about the bill. On April 15, Representative Delaney and Representative Hanna wrote a letter to their fellow members of Congress emphasizing the importance of committing to a long-term sustainable funding bill and supporting their bill, the Infrastructure 2.0 Act that has bipartisan support to repatriate overseas capital for domestic infrastructure repairs. On the Senate side, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) have a bill to replenish the Highway Trust Fund, also through repatriation. All three of these efforts exemplify that infrastructure has historically been a bipartisan success, and that finding a solution to federal transportation investment is no different. Finding a long-term federal transportation funding solution affects each state and its ability to effectively plan projects. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Wyoming have already postponed transportation projects because of funding delays. With 44 days until the highway and transit policy expires, it is crucial these conversations lead to action that ensures a sustainable, long-term funding solution to #FixTheTrustFund.Tags: gas tax, highway trust fund, surface transportation
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