Rethinking the Future of the Federal Surface Transportation Program

"Finally, after almost two years of a contentious debate, adequate multi-year funding is in place, allowing the established highway, safety and transit programs to continue and even a few new ones to be launched. But beyond Fiscal Year 2009, the end of the current authorization, the future of the surface transportation program appears murky. The reauthorization debate has left three major issues unsettled. How these issues are resolved will influence the future directions of the nation's surface transportation program.

...Finally, questions have been raised about the need for a continuing strong federal involvement in transportation. Today, the nation is facing a vastly different set of circumstances than those that gave rise to the federal surface transportation program. With the Intestate Highway System completed and urban rail infrastructure brought up to date, the rationale for a strong federal role in surface transportation has become less compelling. Devolution advocates contend that states are perfectly competent to determine their transportation needs and should be allowed to raise transportation revenues that match those needs."

Thanks to Ken Orski