In a resolution enacted Monday by the AASHTO Board of Directors, state transportation directors urged that transportation investment be allowed to play a critical role in both creating jobs and building the mobility essential to economic growth.

"The state DOTs are poised to advance major projects across the country as soon as Congress provides the sure and steady funding stream that is necessary to move forward," said John Horsley, AASHTO executive director. "There are creative ways to structure the authorization so that these projects can be launched, while deferring the impacts of revenue increases until the economy is stronger. For example, Oregon just did so by enacting a revenue increase that kicks in after a certain period of economic growth."

In a Sunday discussion with Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-CA, during her remarks to the plenary session of the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Palm Desert, CA, Horsley said AASHTO is currently surveying states to determine how many transportation projects would be "ready to go" if additional federal funding becomes available.

Boxer said more funding should have been spent on infrastructure in the first economic recovery legislation passed in February. She said while there is not the will for a second big stimulus program, there might be consideration of extra spending in targeted areas such as transportation, that would lead to more job creation.

The AASHTO Board of Directors' resolution on authorization supports the $500 billion funding level that has been proposed in the House of Representatives.

"If Congress decides that user fees should not be increased until the economy has recovered from the current downturn, interim funding should be provided that continues highway and transit funding assistance at levels that sustain or exceed current spending," the resolution states. "This will assure that transportation investment continues to play a critical role in supporting national economic recovery."

The resolution urges Congress to act on authorization as soon as possible to avoid disruption to state transportation programs and also to protect and create jobs as well as to facilitate multiyear planning.

Rail, Transit, Highway, Bridge Needs All Stressed

AASHTO has voiced support for the dedication of $50 billion for intercity passenger rail, as proposed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership. The resolution also notes AASHTO's commitment to double transit ridership in both urban and rural areas while contending highway and bridge investment should not be neglected.

"Highways will continue to be the primary mode of transportation for both people and freight throughout the United States," the resolution states. "Therefore, AASHTO supports proportionate increases in highway and transit funding that recognizes the resources which both modes will require to meet both rural and urban transportation needs."

The resolution supports development of national objectives and performance standards "developed collaboratively by the U.S. DOT and state DOTs to bring focus and accountability for results to the program. To further that goal, the legislation should authorize a state-driven performance management process to establish targets through which each state does its part to achieve national objectives."

The AASHTO Board of Directors urges 90 percent of federal highway funds be distributed by formula to the states to be spent for the priorities identified by the states in cooperation with their metropolitan planning organizations.

Noting the continuing growth of the nation, the resolution also contends that "upgrading the existing National Highway System to a good state of repair -- including improvements to deficient bridges, pavements, and interchanges -- should be a top national priority. Increasing NHS capacity to address conditions that undermine the efficient and economic functioning of the system, including future growth projections, should be an integral part of the authorization."

The board's authorization policy resolution is available at http://tinyurl.com/pr-7-09.

Durbin Suggests Frontloading Infrastructure Spending

A member of the Senate leadership echoed AASHTO's call for interim funding Thursday after a meeting with Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell.

Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-IL, said Congress should advance surface transportation investment in the wake of high unemployment numbers and a potentially long road until a deal is reached on a six-year authorization measure, CongressDaily reported today.

Durbin said he expects discussion on transportation funding to come after the Senate debates healthcare reform.

"I will predict that after healthcare reform, we will be focusing even more on the economy and jobs and the conversation we had today is going to be part of the conversation all across Capitol Hill in a few weeks to come," Durbin said.

Rendell said he would like to see Congress advance to the states $150 billion in surface transportation funding through a General Fund transfer to the Highway Trust Fund. Congress has put $15 billion in general revenue into the trust fund over the past year ($8 billion last year and $7 billion this year) to prevent the fund from going insolvent. The federal gas tax that contributes most of the dedicated trust fund revenue has not been increased since 1993.

"The states have proven that we can spend infrastructure dollars quickly, and we can make an impact on jobs," the governor said.