NCSL 2010 Fall Forum Leaders Meeting and Transportation Committee Presentations

December 9-10, 2010
Arizona Biltmore Hotel – Phoenix, Arizona

NCSL Transportation Committee 

Agenda

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Thursday, December 9

Transportation Leaders Meeting

As transportation reauthorization remains stalled at the federal level, NCSL convenes this special Transportation Leaders Meeting to gather state legislators from around the country to discuss the key issues in future transportation policy and funding in the United States.

Welcome, Introductions & Setting the Stage

Sen. Richard Moore, Massachusetts, President of NCSL
Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, Texas, NCSL Transportation Committee Chair

The Future of Traffic Safety

The 2010 elections ushered in a crop of new players at both the federal and state level. This session provided attendees with a look back at the last decade of state legislative action on a variety of traffic safety initiatives including distracted driving, graduated drivers licensing and occupant protection. Panelists also discussed what the future might hold for state construction funding and traffic safety initiatives.

David Manning, PhD, NHTSA Regional Administrator, Western Region
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Lowell Porter, Director and Governor’s Representative, Washington Traffic Safety Commission and GHSA Vice Chairman, Olympia, Washington
View Presentation 

Sharon Moffat, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Director and State Health Officer, Arkansas
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John Ulczycki, Group Vice President Research, Communications and Advocacy, National Safety Council
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The Health Benefits of Achieving and Maintaining a Safe Transportation System: Ignition Interlock Case Study

This session provided a discussion on the benefits—economic, health, safety and injury prevention—that can be achieved through transportation safety policy interventions. Experts provided the latest information on successes and challenges faced when implementing ignition interlock laws.

Ruth Shults, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia
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Debra Coffey, Smart Start Inc., Texas
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Judge Mark Atkinson, Judicial Resource Liaison, Texas Center for the Judiciary

Chuck Hurley, Former MADD Chief Executive Officer
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Working Luncheon: Legislator Roundtable

This working lunch provided an opportunity for legislators to discuss activity in their states, with particular attention to innovations in funding and procurement as well as what’s on the horizon for 2011 legislative sessions. Topics also were suggested for the committee to consider at upcoming spring and summer meetings.

Facilitator:
Justin McNaull, AAA, Washington, D.C. 

Transportation Funding: The Post-Election Outlook and Alternative Transportation Funding Approaches

Following the 2010 elections, attendees heard about what to expect in the new Congress and with the still-impending transportation reauthorization. Information was also shared about some fresh strategic thinking regarding alternative federal transportation policy approaches assembled by the Miller Center of Public Affairs.

Ken Orski, Editor, Innovation Briefs, Maryland
The Outlook for the Federal Transportation Program in the Next Congress, Innovation NewsBrief, Vol. 21, No. 32

Public Private Partnerships: What Makes for a Good (or Not-So-Good) Transportation PPP Project?

At this meeting of the NCSL PPP Working Group, the group officially released its new report, Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation: A Toolkit for Legislators. Next, an educational presentation discussed what characteristics make a transportation project a good candidate for a PPP—and what can be learned from recent, high-profile failed PPP projects. This was followed by a roundtable discussion of next steps for the PPP Working Group.

Meeting Summary (8 pages)

Kome Ajise, Program Manager, PPP Program, California Department of Transportation
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Friday, December 10

NCSL Transportation Committee Breakfast

At this breakfast meeting, NCSL staff shared the latest in state developments regarding alternative modes of transportation like neighborhood electric vehicles (golf carts), Segways, scooters and bicycles.

Anne Teigen, Transportation Policy Specialist, NCSL
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NCSL Transportation Committee: Commercialization of Interstate Rest Stops: Exploring the Issues

Since 1956, federal law has prohibited most states from selling (non-vending machine) food and fuel at Interstate rest stops built after 1960. This session examined the issues surrounding the commercialization of highway rest stops.

Rest Stop Closures Map

Justin McNaull, AAA, Washington, D.C.

Kevin Biesty, Arizona DOT
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Eric Bugaile, Pennsylvania, House Transportation Committee
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Holly Alfano, National Association of Truck Stop Owners, Virginia
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Federal Update and Committee Business Meeting

Updates were given on surface transportation reauthorization/extension, other infrastructure proposals, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization, high-speed rail issues, recent federal transportation grants to states and other pertinent activity.