Issue Position: Transportation

Issue Position

Issue Position: Transportation

The Triangle has received national recognition as a top place to live, work, raise a family, start a business and retire. I believe this praise is well-deserved and am pleased that so many people have decided to relocate here. But this growth comes with its own set of challenges, particularly with respect to infrastructure. If we are going to keep pace with growth and maintain our high quality of life, we are going to have to invest continually and robustly in our transportation needs.

We must maintain our roads, highways, and interstates. The federal government supports highway construction and maintenance via the 5-year transportation authorization bill (Public Law 109-59) and through annual appropriations. The good news is that the funds allocated for the current fiscal year will ensure that road projects that were authorized by the 5-year transportation bill can advance toward completion. However, as a result of the President's arbitrary budget cap for domestic programs, the $65.5 billion provided for transportation this year amounted to a $313 million cut from last year's funding.

In my view, federal investments for transportation infrastructure are falling well short of that which is needed to maintain our economic performance and way of life. By the U.S. Department of Transportation's own estimation, the cost to maintain the current condition and operational performance of the highway system alone is about 12% more annually than is being currently spent by all levels of government. A recent study commissioned by Congress also concluded that our transportation investments are inadequate to meet future demand, and that we need to place a greater emphasis on public transportation, investment in metropolitan areas, upkeep of existing infrastructure, and intercity rail.

I also strongly believe that we've got to invest in a multi-modal transportation system that includes viable transit alternatives. A multi-modal system will help conserve energy, improve air quality and foster more livable communities. For many years I worked closely with the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) as they developed a proposal for a commuter rail system that would have linked Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill via above-ground train stations. Although the project did not meet the guidelines for full federal funding, the TTA and regional leaders have embarked on a new effort to bring much-needed rail transit to the region.

Last year, local metropolitan planning organizations (MPO's) created a Special Transit Advisory Committee (STAC) to develop a blueprint for a regional transit system. The Committee's recommendations include improvements to regional bus networks and development of new rail lines throughout the Triangle. Although financing such a plan presents a serious challenge, it is one that must be addressed because the price of inaction is far greater than the costs of building transit.

In the meantime, as a Member of the House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over transportation issues, I will continue working with my colleagues to craft legislation to address our transportation challenges.

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