June 2009 Archives

On May 14, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Surface Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., introduced a policy-setting bill to "establish a comprehensive and unifying mission for the nation's surface transportation system." The legislation lays out eight major goals, and the first one is: "reduce national per capita vehicle miles traveled on an annual basis." Is that an appropriate goal for federal transportation policy? Is it a practical goal? How might that be accomplished and what might be the consequences?

30 responses: Gabriel Roth, Michael A. Replogle, Deron Lovaas, Steve Van Beek, Patrick J. Natale, P.E., Robert L. Darbelnet, Phineas Baxandall, Gabriel Roth, Lisa Caruso, Richard Mudge, Steve Van Beek, John M. Krieger, Bill Graves, Gabriel Roth, Gabriel Roth, Jon Martz, Steve Heminger, Deron Lovaas, James Corless, Bob Poole, Greg Cohen, Ken Orski, Robert L. Crandall, Keith Laughlin, Mortimer L. Downey, John M. Krieger, Jack Kinstlinger, Ron Kuhlmann, Janet F. Kavinoky, Gabriel Roth

Last week, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed that Congress pass an immediate 18-month reauthorization bill to replenish the Highway Trust Fund without raising fuel taxes. That would shore up the fund before it runs out of money -- expected in August -- and let Congress take "the time it needs to fully deliberate the direction of America's transportation priorities," he said, before considering legislation to reform the surface transportation program. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., whose committee is not expected to write its own bill this year, applauded the suggestion. But House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders instead released their own blueprint for legislation to overhaul and reorient the program (not including financing), which they are pushing to get enacted before the current authorization expires Sept. 30.

Reauthorization bills have in the past required multiple extensions -- the last bill took two years to complete. So how much difference would it make if Congress took another 18 months to rewrite the nation's surface transportation law? And what might happen in the next 18 months to change the reauthorization landscape?

22 responses: Jeff Rosen, Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., Rich Sarles, Paul Yarossi, Deron Lovaas, Richard Mudge, Patrick J. Natale, P.E., Robert L. Darbelnet, Michael P. Huerta, D.J. Gribbin, Patrick D. Jones, Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., David A. Raymond, Petra Todorovich, Phineas Baxandall, Gabriel Roth, Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Bob Poole, Ken Orski, Steve Van Beek, Janet F. Kavinoky, Terry O’Sullivan

There is a growing consensus among experts that our transportation system must put far greater emphasis on performance and results (and far less on funding equity and earmarks) to regain the public's trust and willingness to pay for it. What role can technology play in measuring and improving the system's performance, and how can the federal government best encourage the adoption of effective technological solutions to the country's transportation problems? What role should the private sector play?

13 responses: Jeffrey Shane, Lisa Caruso, James Corless, Stephen Lockwood, Lisa Caruso, Patrick D. Jones, Mortimer L. Downey, Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., Ken Orski, Paul Yarossi, Jack Kinstlinger, Randell H. Iwasaki, Rob Atkinson

NOTE: This week's discussion is taking place in conjunction with NationalJournal.com's Energy & Environment expert blog. Responses should be made there.

How can Washington regulate and reduce the transportation sector's oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions? What are the appropriate roles and responsibilities for the Transportation Department and Environmental Protection Agency? How should those roles be incorporated into the climate change legislation and surface transportation reauthorization that Congress is expected to tackle?

Americans are using public transportation in record numbers -- taking 10.7 billion trips last year, an increase of 4 percent over 2007 -- yet because of declining state and local budgets, many mass transit systems are facing the prospect of raising fares, cutting service and laying off staff. Given the contribution that mass transit makes to relieving urban congestion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is it time to overturn rules that only allow federal funding to be spent on capital projects and not on transit systems' day-to-day operating expenses?

13 responses: Richard Mudge, Lisa Caruso, Jeff Rosen, Lisa Caruso, Rich Sarles, Colin F. Peppard, Bob Poole, Beverly A. Scott, Lisa Caruso, Ed Wytkind, Phineas Baxandall, Anthony E. Shorris, William Millar