In The News

Group wants transportation overhaul

As Congress struggles with the next long-term transportation funding bill, the Bipartisan Policy Center has recommended remaking surface transportation policy and instituting a “New Mode-Neutral Freight Fee.”

The non-profit center was established in 2007 by former Senate majority leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell to address policy challenges.

The BPC’s National Transportation Policy Project proposes restructuring federal programs, updating formula criteria and creating a performance-based system that ties transportation spending to national goals, including economic growth, connectivity, accessibility, safety, energy security and environmental protection.

Currently, transportation funding is distributed on a politically driven basis with little analysis of benefits and no accountability for results, the organization said.

One suggestion was adding a New Mode-Neutral Freight Fee. The NTPP recommended developing a mode-neutral freight fee to fund a new focus on critical freight infrastructure

It would also institute a new competitive program: Improving Federal Connections. This would fund expanding the national transportation network across modes, with a focus on freight transportation, together with investments in passenger transportation, as well as improvements to multimodal access for ports and airports.

Any state, region or locality could apply for grants.

NTPP noted policies that result in freight shifts from truck to rail can lead to the more efficient movement of goods.

NTPP also advocated raising federal transportation revenue to a more complete and accurate national system of user fees so as to advance national interests and benefits.

The current transportation funding act, the Safe Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act became law in 2005 and will expire in October.

The Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security subcommittee will have a June 18 hearing on “Freight Transportation In America: Options For Improving The Nation’s Network.”

Representatives from BNSF Railway, North America Maersk and Target will offer testimony.

BPC’s full report can be read at www.bpcntpp.org .