ATA Says the Administration's Proposed Reauthorization Falls Short of Addressing Transportation Needs

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Feb 15, 2011, 04:03 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Obama Administration's budget and outline for reauthorization fall short of effectively dealing with the transportation needs of the nation's consumers and shippers, American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves said in a Feb. 15 statement.

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"While very substantial increases in funding are proposed for high-speed passenger rail, transit, an infrastructure bank, and a 'livability' initiative, the proposal gives short shrift to our nation's highways, which Americans overwhelmingly rely on for their daily transportation needs and goods movement," Graves said.

"And while the Administration is proposing large increases in funding for surface transportation, it has yet to solve the mystery of how to pay for the program, including how pay to rebuild and expand our network of highways and bridges," Graves said. "ATA continues to support an increase in the federal taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel to finance needed road and bridge projects – even though we have been told a fuel tax increase is off the table - because our members understand that roads aren't free and they're not cheap."

"In addition to not addressing the crucial question of funding, this proposal also purports to carve up already scarce federal dollars across even more modes by proposing to increase funding for rail and transit projects and establishing an infrastructure bank that will potentially shift funds away from critically needed highway and bridge projects.

"While the administration is correct that we need massive long-term investments in transportation, these proposals beg the question of who is going to pay for it and what are they paying for," Graves asked.

The American Trucking Associations (www.truckline.com) is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States. Follow ATA on Twitter @TruckingMatters (www.twitter.com/truckingmatters), or become a fan on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/y4qwp6h).

SOURCE American Trucking Associations