Congestion Pricing Would Ease Problems at Airports, on Highways, Peters Tells Panel

Congestion pricing programs should be put in place at airports and on highways to ease the ever-growing congestion problem across the nation, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters reiterated to lawmakers Oct. 18. Speaking before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Transportation, and Science, Peters said airports should increase landing fees for commercial and general aviation planes arriving during peak periods. "Charges for flying into congested airspace or airports should more closely reflect the true societal costs of those decisions," Peters said.  Peters said she intends to meet with the airlines, city officials, and other airline stakeholders in an attempt to avoid record delays experienced this summer.  Secretary Peters’ full testimony can be found at http://commerce.senate.gov/public/_files/1018MaryPeterstestimony.pdf.

FHWA Announces $5 Million in Grants To Reduce Congestion in Five States

The Federal Highway Administration announced Oct. 5 nearly $5 million in grants to help six states reduce congestion near highway construction sites. The states receiving funding are: Maryland, Montana, New York, North Dakota and Utah. Under its "Highways for LIFE" program, grant money is provided to help states build roads faster while making them last longer and less costly to maintain. In addition to direct funding, the program can ease state matching requirements for such projects. "These funds are critical to improving America's infrastructure while minimizing traffic delays," said FHWA Administrator J. Richard Capka. "Reducing traffic congestion is key not only to our nation's quality of life but also to keeping our economy healthy and internationally competitive."  The press release can be found at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0717.htm.

Transportation Appropriations Bill Likely To Be Included in Omnibus

The fiscal year 2008 transportation appropriations package is likely to be rolled into an omnibus bill rather than be passed on its own, as it has been several times in the past decade. The Senate approved its $104.6 billion spending bill Sept. 12 for programs at the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and other agencies. The House approved its parallel $104.4 billion spending bill July 24. The Senate has selected its conferees, but no dates have been set for a conference. The House has not selected its conferees, but it is expected to include the members of the House Appropriations Committee's Transportation Subcommittee and Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wisconsin) and ranking member Jerry Lewis (R-California). President Bush has issued veto threats against both bills, saying that the funding levels exceed his budget request by $3.1 billion

Safe School Routes Improving Child Health, House Highway Transportation Panel Told

Implementation of the federal Safe Routes to School program is helping communities across the nation adopt healthier lifestyles for children while addressing pedestrian and bicycle safety and environmental concerns, witnesses told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Oct. 2. Enacted in 2005 as part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Safe Routes to School Program was funded at $612 million over five years for implementation in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. According to Subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the Safe Routes to School Program was intended to encourage kids to bike or walk to school and to provide communities with the resources to make doing that safer.  Critics of the program say is it shifts focus and scarce resources away from more central surface transportation needs.

NCSL Launches Surface Transportation Reauthorization Working Group

In anticipation of the 2009 expiration of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act:  A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) authorizing legislation, the National Conference of State Legislatures is launching a Surface Transportation Reauthorization Working Group.  This Working Group will be a bipartisan and nationally representative subset of the NCSL Standing Committee on Transportation, with both legislator and legislative staff members. A full description of the group can be found at http://www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sctran/reauthorizationgroup.htm.