Fixing Broken Trust Fund Must Be First Priority
WASHINGTON D.C. This week lawmakers in Congress are scrambling to provide a wish list of local transportation earmarks for a bill that extends the nations highway transportation program for another five years.
In 2005 the last time Congress passed the highway re-authorization measure over 6000 earmarks totaling nearly $24 billion were inserted in the bill including the infamous Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska.
Rather than submit a list of highway projects U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) is submitting a list of four key reforms that Congress should undertake immediately to fix the broken highway trust fund and address the nations crumbling transportation system.
Our office has received 40 requests for local transportation projects totaling several billion dollars and the reality is that that maybe one or two of the smaller ones might get partially funded in this bill" said Brady. Its clear that the critical transportation needs of our communities and region will never be met until Washington finally gets serious about fixing the broken highway trust fund and re-thinks the way we invest in mobility in America."
The federal highway trust fund is expected to run an $8 billion deficit this year and transportation experts tell lawmakers an additional $ 2.2 trillion over five years is needed to address Americas crumbling transportation system. The highway fund in Texas is in similarly bad shape.
From his seat on the Ways and Means Committee that generates much of the revenue that finances Americas infrastructure Brady believes we can get more bang for the buck for current highway dollars and that lawmakers must address the nations transportation challenges aviation highways railway and barge together rather than as unconnected issues.
Americas transportation vision has drifted ever since the interstate highway system was essentially completed. Plus our highway funds have shrunk due to inflation and fuel efficiency. We need to fix the larger problem" noted Brady who developed the reforms after consulting with local state and regional transportation leaders.
Bradys reforms include:
- Forcing lawmakers to modernize the Highway Trust Fund within two years by sun setting the fund in 2011;
- Funding projects not directly related to mobility out of the general fund rather than fuel taxes;
- Accelerating projects by streamlining the bulky environmental process; and
- Convening a national summit of state local and national transportation leaders to develop an 21st century infrastructure plan that integrates highways transit airports railways ports and freight waterways.
A fuller explanation of the reforms can be found here.
