"State highway programs are dangerously underfunded," said Greg Cohen, the alliance's president and CEO. The alliance represents motorists, bus companies, truckers, RV enthusiasts, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways. "One-quarter of our bridges need repairs and pavement conditions are rapidly deteriorating with the brutal winter, but the livable communities program proposed by the administration would redirect the highway user fees paid by motorists and truckers to nonhighway projects."

By taking funds away from state highways and using them to support nonhighway programs such as mass transit and bike paths that promote livable communities, Cohen contends "the administration's proposal shows more interest in dictating spending priorities from Washington than improving our ailing highway system."

The Obama administration's bias against highway users is becoming a serious problem, the alliance asserts. Nearly nine of 10 trips taken by Americans are in a car, but the administration is supporting nonhighway spending. The alliance points out that only 42 percent of the $1.5 billion in TIGER economic recovery grants awarded by U.S. DOT went to highway projects.

"At a time when funding our roads has never been more important to economic growth and national competitiveness, actions like these are incredibly harmful to maintaining a safe and mobile highway system," according to a statement issued by the alliance.

The Federal Transit Administration announced this week it has launched a new website to support U.S. DOT's livable communities initiative. (see related story)