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Novak Testifies on Importance of Federal Investment in Transportation
by Leslie Wollack
 With the nation’s surface transportation law set to expire on September 30 of this year, congressional panels in both the House and the Senate are hoping to reach consensus on a new program in time for the approaching deadline. NLC weighed in on the discussion with testimony from NLC President Kathleen Novak, mayor of Northglenn, Colo., before a Senate committee last week.
In January of 2008, a congressionally appointed commission found that it would cost at least $225 billion in investments each year over the next 50 years for all levels of government to repair existing surface transportation infrastructure and support the U.S. economy.
The $48 billion for transportation improvements contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will begin the needed investment.
“Our communities will benefit greatly from the downpayment Congress and the President supported in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” Novak told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Transportation programs, from airports to transit to high speed rail, not only invest in our infrastructure, also invest in our human resources through job creation.”
Novak told the panel, “Hometown America is where investments meet federal, state and local federal policy goals,” and noted the significance of transportation investment for local governments. "For our communities, transportation is not an end in itself, but a means to an end: a means to a vibrant quality of life.”
She told the committee that the new transportation blueprint drawn up by Congress needs to help “make the different federal programs work together more effectively to better serve our communities, protect the environment and get the most services for our investment dollars.”
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair of the committee, said that the Environment and Public Works Committee will take a lead role in developing a new bill, which she identified as MAP-21, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, and that committee leadership has been meeting to draw up a plan for the new legislation.
Noting recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation that the cost of eliminating backlog of needed improvements to the current highway and bridge network all at once is $495 billion, Sen. Boxer pledged to work together with her colleagues to enact legislation to begin that investment.
A new transportation plan needs to be comprehensive in scope and work in sync with local goals, Novak testified. Transportation legislation should strengthen cities and towns as centers of economic growth; create economic opportunity for all residents; recognize the link between energy consumption and transportation; and assist local governments in meeting goals for livable, vibrant and healthy communities.
Novak stressed that local governments want to work with Congress to develop a comprehensive national transportation plan and that different levels of government need to come together to better serve citizens. Citizens can only be better served by understanding the role local communities play in transportation on a daily basis, she said.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, chair of the National Governors Association and co-founder of a coalition to promote infrastructure investment, testified along with Novak.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking minority member of the committee, noted the “challenges in continuing to provide a safe and free flowing transportation network have never been greater. I am sure our witnesses will agree that our nation’s transportation needs outpace our current investment levels.
“The link between a robust economy and a strong transportation infrastructure is undeniable, yet when it comes to other spending priorities in the federal government, transportation is often neglected,” Inhofe said. “We cannot continue to rely on investments made over 50 years ago.”
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who also testified before the committee, noted the challenges and necessity of moving quickly to authorize a new transportation program.
“America’s transportation systems are the lifeblood of our economy and when properly maintained and supported can be a catalyst for economic growth,” LaHood said. “These systems allow people to get to jobs and allow businesses to access wider pools of labor, suppliers, and customers. The ability to efficiently move freight will be critical to our economic recovery. Without efficient transportation routes, economies stagnate.”
The hearing included a strong exchange on funding and the projected shortfalls in the federal Highway Trust Fund, funded by the federal gasoline tax and distributed to states for transportation projects by formula. Secretary LaHood was criticized for the Administration’s stated opposition to an increase in the gas tax.
Novak testified that NLC policy supports an increase in the gas tax with indexing for inflation, pointing out that the Denver region recently raised the sales tax to fund transportation programs and the state of Colorado raised car registration fees that will generate an additional $250 million annually, far short of projected needs.
“As a nation, we invested in and built a superior transportation network — but that does not remove the need to continue to maintain this infrastructure,” said Novak. “Together with water and sewer issues, local governments would have a hard time raising the necessary revenue ourselves and cannot do it without the support of the federal government.”
Novak pledged NLC support for a renewed intergovernmental partnership and to work with the committee to develop a “forward looking infrastructure plan that encourages economic recovery and growth. Our members are committed to working with you to help make that reality.”
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