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Commission Report: Transportation System in "Physical and Financial Crisis"
02/20/2008
According to a report issued February 1 by the National Surface Transportation Infastructure Financing Commission, the nation’s surface transportation system is in a physical and financial crisis because current revenue is insufficient to maintain and improve this country’s highways, public transportation systems and intermodal connectors.
Preliminary observations from the report include:
- Transportation system demands are outpacing required investment;
- Maintenance costs are competing with necessary expansion of the system;
- The fuel tax, which has been the key federal funding source for our system, is no longer sufficient at current rates;
- More direct user charges should be explored; and
- We need not only more investment in our system, but more intelligent investment complemented by better operation of the system.
The report says that the transportation system needs an infusion of money to build and maintain a better transportation system that is needed because of economic and population growth. Relying solely on the federal gas tax is not a feasible long run strategy because “the fuel taxes that are the backbone of the federal transportation revenues will continue to shrink relative to use and needs of the system.”
The Commission invites comments and feedback on the interim report in order to develop constructive and specific recommendations that will support the nation’s future transportation needs. The final report is expected to be release by the Commission at the end of 2008.
Learn more about the Commision's work here.
