Infrastructure commission gets more time, money

Infrastructure commission gets more time, money    The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill that makes technical corrections to the multiyear surface transportation spending blueprint known as SAFETEA-LU (Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users).
   Among many provisions, the bill extends until the end of the year the deadline for the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission to report to Congress with a long-range transportation vision and proposals for funding needed infrastructure improvements. The commission originally was to complete its work by July.
   The bill also provides another $2 million for the infrastructure commission to do its work. The commission has held many field hearings to gather input from transportation stakeholders and experts.
   Democratic lawmakers are concerned that the infrastructure commission may endorse the administration’s position against raising fuel taxes or even indexing the gas tax to inflation, and in favor of toll roads and lane pricing to make up for transport revenue shortfalls, said David Heymsfeld, staff director for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, at the National Industrial Transportation League’s Spring Forum in Arlington, Va.
   American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves said he does not sense a bias among commissioners towards the administration’s position, and that they appreciate the need for a strong federal funding and management role for infrastructure renewal and expansion, including freight-related projects.