Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Likely Out Early Summer, Rep. Graves Says
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s long-term funding proposal for fixing and modernizing the country’s infrastructure will likely be unveiled early in the summer, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), a senior transportation policymaker, said April 26.
Citing Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao on the timing, Graves said he was told to expect a plan that would provide transportation authorizers on Capitol Hill about two months to review specific proposals before leaving Washington for the August recess.
“We have a lot of work to do, obviously,” Graves said at a conference hosted by the National Association of State Highway and Transportation Unions. “The good news with infrastructure is that it will be much, much more bipartisan.”
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A combination of funding proposals, such as vehicle miles traveled, public-private partnerships (P3s) and direct federal spending, would need to be considered to reach the $1 trillion mark President Donald Trump would like in a plan. However, investing private capital as a primary funding option for projects would not be a viable option, said Graves, chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee.
“I don’t think we can get there with P3s, and one of the biggest problems is that, for the investment private individuals put in, they’re going to want a return,” Graves said.
Lawmakers from rural states and districts concerned about P3s emphasize that their roadways lack the traffic volume for viable tolling operations.
Unveiling an infrastructure plan in a few months would miss the 100-day window in which Trump had pledged to deliver the plan. April 29 is Trump's 100th day in office.
In February, the president told Congress to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure measure that would include public and private funds. Before that, Democrats in the Senate unveiled a $1 trillion funding blueprint for infrastructure projects. The Democrats’ plan was unspecific on sources of funding.
