Time to reassess our national transportation program

The Ports-to-Plains Alliance finds this an interesting article addressing national transportation needs and possible funding.  Several comments are certainly supported.

“Thinking local is not enough. Flourishing local efforts must be bolstered by a sound national transportation policy complete with a long-term strategic vision, guided with performance benchmarks, and underpinned by adequate revenue sources.”

“…We found that not only does the current transportation system contribute to the national deficit by as much as $100 billion annually, it no longer gives the country a return on investment.”

The following statement, however, is troubling and misses the point badly

“It’s time that those who benefit the most—oil companies—shoulder more of the burden of the nation’s transportation system.”

Do oil companies benefit? Surely!  Should they shoulder more of the burden? Perhaps.  But to say that the oil industry is the most benefited industry is missing the purpose of the transportation system.  Every user of the system, from the user of public transit, the bicyclist, the driver and passengers that may be commuting by car to work or heading on vacation, the trucker moving goods to markets to the consumers of those goods purchasing those goods and employed at the local grocery store, big box retailer, or at a local small business share the benefit of the transportation system.  When costs of transportation increase, so do the costs of everything.

The earlier statement that transportation is increasing the national deficit is well documented.  Something must be done to increase funding in a fair way and reform the program in a balanced way--a way that meets the needs of small communities and rural areas as well as major metropolitan areas, funds both system preservation and needed new capacity, recognizes the importance of moving freight in interstate commerce, and is environmentally responsible and energy efficient.

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Click here for complete article > The Hill Transportation Blog

January 6, 2012

By Shin-pei Tsay, director of cities and transportation at the Carnegie Endowment

Innovative transport projects have caught on in a big way, especially with America’s towns and cities. But national policies lag far behind. When it comes to transportation policymaking, it’s time for Congress to stroll along Main Street…