Editorial Office
11555 Central Parkway, Suite 401
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Phone: +1.904.721.2925 ��� Fax: +1.904.721.2930
Looking Ahead
Election 2012 is over and we���re right back where we started ��� same
president, same majorities in the House and Senate. Essentially nothing
has changed except for the urgency to get the nation���s transportation
crisis solved. With every passing day it becomes more urgent.
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), a non���profit organization that ���dri���
ves principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotia���
tion and respectful dialogue,��� has just released a study entitled, ���The
Consequences of Reduced Federal Transportation Investment.���
Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker,
Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, BPC combines politically
balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach.
The study suggests that cutting federal funds for transportation, with���
out more extensively reforming the existing surface transportation
program and without making those cuts in a thoughtful manner that
allows for careful consideration of the federal role, would be potential���
ly devastating.
BPC recommends that Congress consider the following actions:
n Expand federal revenues while providing a framework for increased
state and local investment. Continued underinvestment in our
nation���s transportation system will have substantial detrimental
impacts in areas of national interest, for which the federal govern���
ment should take responsibility. The short���term solution is the polit���
ically challenging but logistically simple action of increasing the fed���
eral gas tax. However, regardless of whether that can be achieved,
Congress must provide states and metropolitan areas with better
financing tools and assistance with their efforts to raise revenue.
n
If expenditures must be cut, programmatic reform is even more
essential. When resources are severely constrained, the argument
for undertaking greater programmatic reforms to better focus
transportation spending on national goals becomes more, not less,
compelling.
n
Programmatic reform should include competitive grant programs.
n
Metropolitan transportation should have a prominent role in federal
legislation. The report finds that a dimin���
ished federal role in transit programs
could potentially be damaging to the
nation���s economic growth.
Congress ��� which achieved next to noth���
ing last session ��� would do well to read
the report, and act upon its recommen���
dations. Fast.
Mark S. Kuhar, editor
mkuhar@mining���media.com
(330) 722���4081
Member: Construction Writers Association
4
ROCKproducts ��� DECEMBER 2012
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