AASHTO supports President's transportation funding plan
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) this week joined President Barack Obama in urging Congress to extend legislation to fund Federal highway and transit programs as a prelude to completing a new reauthorization bill.
"We appreciate President Obama's support for transportation investments and look forward to continuing to work with Congress on addressing the country's urgent transportation challenges," said John Horsley, AASHTO executive director.
Last week, AASHTO President Susan Martinovich, director of the Nevada Department of Transportation, said during a news conference in Louisville, Kentucky, that more than 500,000 jobs and countless state and local projects to modernize and improve transportation across the U.S. are in jeopardy if Congress does not act quickly.
The current surface transportation legislation, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) expired in 2009. Congress has extended the Act seven times, but that latest extension expires on September 30. By Sept. 30, Congress must also extend the 18.4-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax that provides the revenue to fund federal highway and transit programs. It also must pass a long-term reauthorization of those programs funded at the highest level possible.
For more information on AASHTO's authorization principles, visit http://www.transportation.org/?siteid=98.
Published 9-2-2011