Industry groups urge Trump not to cut TIGER program

The AAPA and CAGTC have issued separate statements decrying President Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 discretionary budget, which would eliminate funding for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants program.    Freight transportation industry groups are urging President Trump to rethink his proposed 2018 discretionary budget.
   The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) have issued separate statements decrying cuts in transportation infrastructure funding included in the administration’s budget proposal.
   Specifically, the preliminary budget released late last week would slash funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) by 13 percent from 2016 levels and completely eliminate the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. President Obama launched the TIGER program in 2009 in an effort to revitalize ailing transportation infrastructure across the country.
   In addition, AAPA noted that although the proposed budget would increase the overall U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget by $400 million over the previous administration’s request of $4.6 billion, the request still represents a 16 percent decrease in the corps budget compared to the Continuing Resolution fiscal 2017 level.
   Kurt Nagle, president and CEO of AAPA, said port authorities across the United States are “apprehensive” about the proposed fiscal 2018 budget.
   “Adequate federal investments into U.S. port-related infrastructure, both on the landside and waterside, are crucial for the efficient movement of goods so the nation can remain globally competitive,” said Nagle. “Activities at U.S. seaports account for more than a quarter of the nation’s economy, support over 23 million American jobs and generate more than $320 billion a year in federal, state and local tax revenue. It’s vital the federal government uphold its end of the partnership with ports so the country can have a 21st century goods movement system in place.”
   “Competitive grant programs, such as TIGER and the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program (also known as FASTLANE grants), are critical tools for transportation projects that are difficult to fund through traditional distribution methods, such as formula programs,” said Elaine Nessle, executive director of CAGTC, a coalition of more than 60 public and private organizations dedicated to increasing federal investment in America’s intermodal freight infrastructure.
   “Both programs encourage competition at the state, regional and local level to develop projects that maximize federal investment by encouraging creative financing arrangements, private sector participation, and strong non-federal matching,” Nessle added. “The TIGER program has proven its effectiveness in capitalizing on federal investments: for every $1 of federal monies distributed through the program, $3.50 is leveraged through other sources, including private funds, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
   “We applaud the President’s stated commitment to ‘investing in nationally and regionally significant transportation infrastructure projects,’ and encourage the Administration to fund – at an increased, robust level – competitive grant programs that support nationally and regionally significant freight infrastructure projects,” she said.
   “The U.S. population is expected to increase 70 million by 2045, and each person uses roughly 63 tons of freight annually,” she explained. “Investment is needed to make this demand an opportunity, rather than a crisis.”