NIT League hosts transportation infrastructure webinar

NIT League hosts transportation infrastructure webinar    The National Industrial Transportation League will host an online presentation, sponsored by American Shipper, on Feb. 26 at 2-3 p.m. EST, that will highlight important aspects of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Commission's recommendations for the future of the nation's transportation infrastructure, due to be released the same day.
   During the webinar, Commissioner Kathy Ruffalo will make a presentation about the commission's recommendations on how to raise billions of dollars needed to maintain and enhance the country's freight transportation system.
   The webinar is free to all NIT League members and guests. Online registration is available here. Once confirmed, you will receive a link to the virtual classroom, which will permit you to follow along to an accompanying PowerPoint presentation. The deadline for registration is Feb 25 by 1 p.m. EST.
   Ruffalo is a highly respected government affairs consultant with extensive experience in federal transportation policy. She is widely regarded as a key player in writing the last three surface transportation bills: ISTEA, SAFETEA, AND SAFETEA-LU. 'The commission has been especially well served by her expertise in this critically important field,' the NIT League said.
   In February 2008, the commission issued its interim report and noted that the current approach to funding surface transportation suffers from three key problems:
   ' Insufficient revenue to maintain the national network and build needed improvements.
   ' Absence of a close link between funding mechanisms and use of the system.
   ' Lack of investing transportation revenue that's structurally driven toward cost effectiveness.
   'All users of the surface modes have been eagerly awaiting the final report of this commission,' the NIT League said.