With Ryan on Board, Differences in Campaign Transportation Policies Become Clear

Assuming that Romney's selection of Ryan is an endorsement of his policy views, especially where Romney has not been specific, Freemark takes a detailed look at Ryan's extensive voting record in the House of Representatives and his budget proposals to get a sense of the philosophy of a Romney-Ryan presidency. 

Freemark concludes, "In matters of transportation, this attitude would steadily decrease the
role of the federal government in sponsoring infrastructure projects,
especially those that cannot be sponsored entirely through user fees. It
would discourage the consideration of negative externalities, such as
pollution and congestion, in the considerations of what subsidies should
be provided for alternative transportation - because its political
ideology opposes government subsidies altogether. It would dismantle
enforcement of federal environmental regulations, especially those
that recognise climate change, and encourage the privatization of public
services such as transit systems or parking meters."

"In contrast, President Obama's proposed budget would expand transportation expenditures massively
over the next six years, with a particular focus on intercity rail and
public transportation. Under his budget, federal expenditures going to
transit and rail would increase from 22.9% of transportation funding in
2013 to 35.7% in 2018; under Mr. Ryan's program, they could decline to
almost nothing, since transit cannot pay for itself using user fees,
like it or not."