Oberstar Keeping Transport Bill on Fast Track

Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said April 24 that he intended to stick to a timetable that will put a new surface transportation bill before the House by June 1, and get the bill passed by Congress by Sept. 30.

Oberstar also said he did not expect that the Highway Trust Fund will require another infusion of money from the government’s general fund before a new highway spending plan has been passed.

Oberstar spoke at a press conference organized by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the American Public Transit Association, and received the groups’ “bottom line” report of spending needs to maintain and improve transportation infrastructure.

Oberstar said that the new bill will include provisions for freight transportation on highway, rail and water, and also push reforms in the Department of Transportation to give greater emphasis to intermodal transportation.

He did not give details, but in the past Oberstar has said he wants to have a high-level official to be responsible for DOT’s intermodal programs, a restructuring of the Federal Highway Administration and a way to reduce the amount of time it takes to get projects authorized and funded.

John Horsley, AASHTO president, said that the U.S. will need to invest $225 billion a year for the six-year span of the bill’s life to upgrade highways, reduce congestion, and give more passengers the option of riding public transportation instead of driving. The estimate is close to ones done by two congressional commissions that studied highway infrastructure policy and financing.