Senior Reporter
Senators Unveil 6-Year Transportation Policy Bill
The leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee introduced a six-year transportation policy measure June 23 that would pave the way for improvements along freight corridors and highway infrastructure projects.
The committee is scheduled to mark up the bill, titled "Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy," or DRIVE, Act on June 24.
The bill would allow states to designate certain public roads as a critical rural freight corridor. It includes provisions designed to improve truck freight movement and increases truck freight efficiencies inside the boundaries of intermodal facilities, as well as funding authority to maintain and repair bridges.
.@jiminhofe and @SenatorBoxer at the release of the #DRIVEAct. @NARCregions pic.twitter.com/sb3Lw0vD0U
— Erich Zimmermann (@erichzimm) June 23, 2015 Also, under the bill, the Secretary of Transportation would be allowed to establish and implement a toll credit marketplace pilot program consisting of not more than 10 states. The program’s purpose would be to identify whether a monetary value can be assigned to toll credits and to determine if the purchase of toll credits provides flexibility to deal with funding issues. The participating states would be required to provide the secretary with updates. The secretary also would be required to update senate transportation authorizers on the program.
The bill increases overall funding levels from a 2012 transportation law at an average of 3% per year. That would come out to about $260 billion over six years.
“Our nation’s roads and highways have suffered under too many short-term extensions, which have led to higher costs, more waste and less capability to prioritize major modernization projects to address growing demands on our interstates,” said EPW Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the bill’s sponsor.
“The clock is ticking, and action in the EPW Committee is a major first step — the other committees also need to act,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, the panel’s ranking Democrat.
Stakeholders were appreciative of the multiyear bill. Shortly after it was introduced, National League of Cities CEO Clarence Anthony praised the sponsors, saying the legislation answers the group’s call for “greater certainty that only a long-term transportation bill can provide.”
Notwithstanding the senators’ efforts, House GOP leaders have indicated they are considering extending highway funding authority through the end of the year. Current funding authority for transportation programs expires July 31, and it is unlikely both chambers will clear the EPW measure to the president’s desk before then.
The June 24 markup begins at 9:30 a.m.
