Upon last month’s release of Future Needs of the U.S. Surface Transportation System, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
Upon last month’s release of Future Needs of the U.S. Surface Transportation System, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Executive Director John Horsley noted, Increased transportation investment will be needed to keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy. Immediate Congressional action will be required to avoid a reduction of $11 billion or more in federal highway assistance in 2009. Because of skyrocketing construction costs, additional revenues will be required to enable states, cities and counties to deliver the congestion relief and capacity needed in communities all over America.
The Future Needs report was released during an early-March AASHTO briefing in Washington, D.C., attended by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN), plus two members of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. Participants examined projected shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund against commitments in SAFETEA and likely future funding programs. The 90-page report outlines and quantifies the needs of the Interstate Highway System, the rest of the U.S. federal-aid road system, and rail and bus transit; addresses the coming nationwide explosion in freight carriage by truck and rail; explores demographic trends that will drive much transportation demand in coming years; and, recommends steps that can be taken to provide needed transportation services.
The report is the first of six being prepared to assist the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. The volume, accessible on the web at www.transportation1.org/tif1report, will also be available in hard copy free of charge through the AASHTO bookstore at bookstore.transportation.org/item_details.aspx?ID=1001.