Transportation Issues Overview
State legislatures are responsible for funding the vital transportation systems that are key to America's economic growth, mobility and quality of life. NCSL offers information, research, legislative data, technical assistance and referral assistance on numerous transportation topics to state legislatures. Transportation issues include coordinated human service transportation, hazardous materials transportation, traffic congestion, traffic safety, aviation, transportation finance and rail issues.
Coordinated Human Service Transportation Many federal, state and local agencies provide or support special transportation services for transportation disadvantaged populations. Government, non-profit and for-profit programs serve rural and urban communities, indigent populations, veterans, people with disabilities, seniors and Medicaid recipients. But, the large number, diversity and dispersion of specialized transportation programs across many agencies can create ineffective and inefficient service and problems such as duplication of service, underutilization of resources, inconsistent service, gaps in service, inconsistent safety standards and customer inconvenience. To combat these problems, government agencies, human service organizations and transportation planners have advocated improved program coordination. NCSL is working with the Federal Transit Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor to track state coordination efforts. This page provides the latest information about state legislation, NCSL reports and links to additional resources.
Traffic Congestion Anyone who has ever been in a car knows that traffic congestion is a problem seemingly everywhere. Traffic congestion delays travelers in the United States an estimated 3.7 billion hours each year, resulting in 2.3 billion gallons in wasted fuel and $65 billion in unnecessary annual costs. What can state lawmakers do? NCSL's transportation program tracks state efforts to mitigate traffic congestion with improved transportation operations and management. Through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), NCSL participates in the National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) and National Associations Working Group on Transportation Operations and Management (NAWG). To find out more about traffic congestion mitigation techniques, view NCSL's publications or information from other organizations who participate in the NTOC and NAWG.
Hazardous Materials Transportation is a public safety concern for the states. NCSL is working with the seven-state Alliance for Uniform Hazmat Transportation Procedures to assist states in implementing uniform procedures for hazardous materials transportation permits and registration using the best practices of existing state programs. NCSL is able to assist states in determining an appropriate hazmat transportation safety program. NCSL works with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on hazmat safety as well.
Traffic Safety is an important public health issue for many people, including state legislators. Each year, more than 40,000 people are killed in motor vehicle crashes and thousands more are injured. Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for all age groups in the United States and cost society an estimated $230.6 billion each year. State legislatures debate more than 1,000 traffic safety bills each year relating to occupant protection, distracted driving, drunk driving, pedestrian and bicycle safety -- among others. NCSL tracks these key traffic safety bills in many Legislative Tracking Databases.
Other areas of focus for transportation include aviation, transportation finance and rail issues.
The Transportation Program also staffs and supplies research and analysis as requested to the NCSL Standing Committee on Transportation. This committee, with representation from all the states, meets three times a year. It has jurisdiction over the states' interests in transportation and develops policy positions on federal issues that relate to the states.
The Transportation Program also undertakes research and educational projects on a grant or contract basis. NCSL staff working on transportation issues include: Jim Reed, transportation program director, Melissa Savage and Matt Sundeen. Email: transportation-info@ncsl.org or phone (303) 364-7700. |
