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Transportation Committee

Letter to Senators from Senator Betty Karnette expressing strong support of the Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-first Century (TEA-21) dated April 4, 2003

April 4, 2003

Dear Senator:

I am writing on behalf of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) to express our strong support of the Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-first Century (TEA-21). The act has produced a more stable source of increased and more equitable funding. It has enhanced long-term planning and increased flexibility at the state level to use federal transportation funds innovatively. Because of the overwhelming success of TEA-21, NCSL urges Congress in this reauthorization process to preserve the foundation and core principles of TEA-21 that have served state transportation projects so well. We offer to work closely with Congress to further develop and improve TEA-21's programs and objectives.

NCSL's reauthorization priorities are derived from NCSL's own comprehensive surface transportation policy. The policy was developed by state legislators from across the country and from both political parties. It is a truly balanced, bipartisan testimony to what states need most from a federal-aid surface transportation program. NCSL's priorities for the reauthorization of TEA-21 are as follows:

• Retaining and further protecting the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) revenue with budgetary firewalls by dedicating and fully expending transportation user fees and interest, including those levied on alternative fuels, to the HTF;
• Retaining current federal/state financial matching commitments for projects or allowing flexible state match criteria that enhance project delivery while addressing the sharp reduction in state revenues across the nation; and
• Expanding State Infrastructure Banks (SIBs) to all fifty states to use in transportation project financing.

• Allowing states the flexibility to use their federal trust fund monies to finance intercity passenger rail projects;
• Supporting federal programs that fund different transportation modes such as transit and rail programs that provide states and cities with many options for public transportation including -- transit, commuter rail, inter-city rail, high-speed rail and MagLev; and
• Providing funding for intermodal projects to help ease freight movement, including intermodal connectors and port facilities.

Because TEA-21 is the source of federal funding for the nation's highway and transit networks, it is essential that Congress include state priorities in the new law. I am hopeful that these initial comments will commence a collaborative effort between Congress and NCSL in addressing national transportation needs. For additional assistance, please have your staff contact Eileen Doherty, Transportation Committee Director, in NCSL's Washington, D.C. office at 202-624-8687 or eileen.doherty@ncsl.org.

Sincerely,

Senator Betty Karnette
California Legislature
Chair, NCSL Transportation Committee