What's News
01/17/08
NARC Responds to National Transportation Commission Recommendations
Category: The Washington Update
Posted by: shannon
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION RESPONDS TO
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION’S REPORT
Regional Solutions Needed in National Vision
WASHINGTON, DC (January 17, 2008) – The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) applauds the sustained efforts and bold vision of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission in their recently released report, “Transportation for Tomorrow,” which makes recommendations to Congress. NARC shares the Commission’s commitment to an integrated, multimodal transportation network, advancing the American economy while promoting the flow of people, goods and services. NARC and its members are working towards innovative, lasting solutions for the maintenance and improvement of the nation’s transportation system.
“As it now stands, our country’s transportation system is at a crossroads. Purchasing power and funds continue to dwindle as infrastructure needs for basic maintenance and demands for increased capacity overwhelm an aging system,” stated NARC President Betty Knight, Platte County, MO Commissioner. “Significant attention and additional funding for transportation at all levels of government are required to improve the safety, environment, interconnectivity and commerce of our regions and nation as a whole.”
Several of NARC’s long-standing transportation policies are supported by the Commission’s recommendations, including:
▪ Eliminating the “silo” mentality in federal transportation programs;
▪ Calling for a greater use of public private partnerships;
▪ Streamlining the federal approval process for transportation projects; and,
▪ Promoting private sector investment through a Federal Investment Tax Credit.
▪ Promoting private sector investment through a Federal Investment Tax Credit.
NARC firmly believes that infrastructure investments are directly tied to all areas that foster community prosperity, safety and sustainability. NARC advocates for regional agencies to receive adequate federal funding, as well as the necessary authority for bolstering critical transportation infrastructure. NARC supports the existence and continued operations of MPOs in metropolitan planning and programming, as well as rural planning organizations (RPOs) for rural planning. NARC is, however, concerned about negative impacts the lack of federal funding, the primary financial support, may have on MPOs and the planning process. Any declining ability to plan the safest and most effective transportation system will suffocate capacity, maintenance, and improvements in our nation’s regions.
“With the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) predicted to be insolvent by 2009, the Commission’s work is timely and offers a starting point in determining a viable national financing plan that will prevent deficiencies and improve inter and intra state infrastructure,” said Knight. “The Commission’s call for a fundamental redesign in the way we establish our transportation priorities is long overdue, and NARC looks forward to advancing the role of regionalism in the coming debate.”
NARC supports cooperatively working with local, state and federal partners on policies and decisions that are in the best interest of the American people and our communities. NARC is exploring transportation financing policies including, but are not limited to:
v Taxing at the federal, state and regional levels including – indexing strategies, a dedicated national infrastructure sales tax, and restructuring the income tax to include a set-aside for infrastructure investment;
v Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT) and other user-based fee programs to be piloted in states and regions across the country; and,
v Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) that do not undermine public authority and maintain a primary role for state, regional and local governments as stewards of our national infrastructure. One example of PPPs that NARC is advocating for is Regional Infrastructure Improvement Zones (RIIZs).
NARC looks forward to working with Congress to create an efficient transportation system that will secure our competitiveness in a global marketplace, sustain jobs, and strengthen our local, national and regional economies.
A copy of the Commission's report is available at www.transportationfortomorrow.org.
Click HERE to access the PDF version of this statement.
Click HERE to access the PDF version of this statement.