Organizations Encourage Investment in Transportation

In an open letter to Congress and President Obama, AAA, American Trucking Associations, the National Association of Manufacturers and the United States Chamber of Commerce have urged lawmakers to continue to support investment in the U.S. transportation sector.

Below find their open letter to President Obama and the 111^th Congress.

Open Letter to the President and Congress on Transportation Investment

America’s transportation users urge you to enact a multi-year surface transportation authorization bill as soon as possible. Delaying significant investment and necessary program reforms until the next Congress will not benefit our nation’s economy, safety, or quality of life. The task before the 111^th Congress is to enact a robust, reformed, and more accountable multi-year transportation bill for the American people.

Our groups represent the users of the system – individuals and businesses that move on our nation’s transportation network. We are the payers of that system. And as payers we know the value that strategic capital investments provide to our national highway, bridge, and public transportation network. These public assets pay dividends to American families, businesses, and the U.S. economy and deliver a long-term value that far exceeds their initial cost.

Greater investment in transportation is needed:

·         To reduce traffic congestion thereby enhancing productivity and energy usage;

·         To improve road safety and reduce health care costs associated with preventable vehicle crashes;

·         To lay the competitive foundation making long-term growth and prosperity possible; and

·         To put millions of Americans back to work by helping to sustain an economic recovery.

We are not alone in this endeavor. Two blue-ribbon, bipartisan commissions initiated by Congress in 2005 have provided a consensus plan for program change and financing. They call for a program that is performance-based, transparent, fully accountable to taxpayers, and user financed. These are principles that we embrace.

Our organizations believe Congress must address revenue shortfalls in order to finance our nation’s transportation system at robust levels and we are willing to support revenue approaches, including increases in federal gasoline and diesel taxes, in order to provide the necessary funding to meet critical transportation needs. However, because these public policy decisions directly affect our members, any request that users pay more must be accompanied by legislation that achieves program reforms, increases accountability, focuses on national objectives, and makes a commitment that spending will benefit those who make the investment. We must move away from the status quo to reach these objectives.

The undersigned organizations readily acknowledge the political challenges before you; but we firmly believe this is a challenge the 111th Congress must tackle. We will work together because the safety of our families, the strength of our economy, and the future of our transportation system depend on it.

Let’s work together to deliver this national priority.

Sincerely,

AAA                                                       National Association of Manufacturers

American Trucking Associations               U.S. Chamber of Commerce