Industry wants action on Trump’s infrastructure proposal

During Tuesday evening’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called on Congress to develop legislation that generates at least $1.5 trillion for new infrastructure.    In his first State of the Union speech to the nation Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump called on Congress to develop legislation that generates at least $1.5 trillion “for the new infrastructure investment we need.”
   The freight transportation industry, in particular, has been outspoken for years about Washington making infrastructure modernization a long-term, national priority, rather than using a Band-Aid approach to fixes.
   “Existing programs are oversubscribed,” said Leslie Blakey, president of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC). “The freight-focused INFRA program, for example, saw $13 of requests for every $1 available in its first round.”
   The FAST Act, for example, created the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects (NSFHP) program to provide financial assistance – competitive grants, known as Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants, or credit assistance – to nationally and regionally significant freight and highway projects.
   “We encourage the administration to commit significant resources above current funding levels and dedicate a minimum of $2 billion annually to freight projects,” Blakey said.
   “City leaders are unable to ignore our nation’s aging infrastructure,” said Mark Stodola, mayor of Little Rock, Ark., and president of the National League of Cities, in a statement. “Every day, we’re forced to make emergency repairs and often have to raise additional funds where we’re able. We are already leveraging every dollar available, and we need our federal partners to pay their share. That’s how we will build for 2050, instead of simply fixing 1950.”
   While the U.S. economy continues on the upswing, aging and crumbling transportation infrastructure will increasingly pose a headwind to this momentum. The American Society of Civil Engineers in its 2017 report card gave the U.S. infrastructure a grade of D+ .
   “Freight movement across all modes is expected to grow nearly 42 percent by 2040 – without a strategic campaign of investment, this opportunity has potential to overburden infrastructure and create a drag on our national economy,” said CAGTC Chairman Tim Lovain of Crossroads Strategies.
   CAGTC said an infrastructure bill from Congress and the administration should include a national strategy that guides long-term planning; dedicated, sustainable and flexible funding; merit-based criteria for funding allocation; and partnership with the private sector.
   “As significant is the president’s call to make long-overdue reforms to a federal approval process that leaves needed projects languishing through years of redundant reviews,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America. “Finding a way to make decisions in months, instead of years, while still holding projects to a high standard for approval, will save taxpayers billions, restore public confidence in our ability to invest wisely and continue to protect the environment.”
   The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) said states should also have more leeway to set up toll collections on their major roadways to be dedicated for infrastructure investment.
   “The current federal restriction on tolling of the interstate system is one such barrier to increased highway investment,” said Patrick Jones, executive director and CEO of IBTTA. “Some of the highest capacity, interstate quality highways in America would never have been built without tolling. Tolling is both a proven and effective tool to help pay for our nation’s infrastructure and an incubator of ideas driving mobility in the future.”