T&I Bill Turns Clock Back 60 Years

This week is turning out to be a really rough one for Americans who want to travel without a car.

After years of stalemate, several transportation related bills are now being rushed through the House.

If passed into law, these bills would represent the biggest change in transportation policy in decades, designed to return us to the car or nothing policies of 1950s. I haven't read through every line of the legislation, but there may even be language requiring automotive companies to begin using tailfins again.

These bills demonstrate just how disfunctional our transportation system has become. The core issue is this: as gas prices hover around the $3.00 range, people are burning less gas by driving less and driving more efficient cars. Add in the fact that the gas tax has lost value to inflation over the last two decades and a highway industry that wants to keep building roads at a rapid pace, and you have a recipe for disaster. In fact, the highway industry has received $35 billion in direct federal subsidies in the last three years.

Congress could change the transportation program to fit the growing need and desire for walking, biking, transit and intercity trains, thereby reducing federal expenditures in the long run by using transportation dollars more efficiently. Instead, the Transportation and Infrastructure committee has decided to cut everything unrelated to highways.

To make matters worse, the Ways and Means committee has decided to fund an expanded highway program with a funding source that U.S. Senator Tom Colburn finds highly questionable.

It is important that everyone who wants to walk, bike, or ride a bus or train make their opinion known this week. You can do so by clicking here.

Also, on a more positive note, Illinois Senator Durbin made it very clear to his collages that he wants something different. Click here to read his letter.

Click here to read a statement by Kirk Steudle, President and John Horsley, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.