Report of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission Transportation for

1
Report of the National Surface Transportation
Policy and Revenue Study CommissionTransportation
for Tomorrow

• Presented to
• Regional Rail Steering Committee
• January 24, 2008

Report is available atwww.transportationfortomorr
ow.org
2
Report Overview

• Volume I Recommendations
• A Call to Action
• Recommendations to Reform Institutions and
  Programs
• Recommendations for Paying the Bill (Keeping the
  Highway Trust Fund Solvent)
• Conclusion
• Supplemental Views

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Report Overview

• Volume II
• Chapter 1 Why Was This Commission Created?
• Chapter 2 What Are the Future Demands on the
  Surface Transportation System
• Chapter 3 How Does Our System Function Today?
• Chapter 4 What Are the Long-Term Capital
  Investment Needs of the System?
• Chapter 5 What Revenue Sources Are Available for
  Financing Surface Transportation Improvements
• Chapter 6 Are Program and Institutional Reforms
  Instrumental to Achieving Our National Vision?

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Congressional Mandate

• The Commission was authorized by Section 1909 of
  the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
  Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users
  (SAFETEA-LU). According to the statute, the
  Commission is charged with completing a
  comprehensive study of the national surface
  transportation system and the Highway Trust Fund,
  then developing a conceptual plan, with
  alternative approaches, to ensure that this
  system continues to serve the needs of the United
  States.

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List of Commissioners (12)

• Mary Peters, Chair
• Jack Schenendorf, Vice Chair
• Frank Busalacchi
• Maria Cino
• Rick Geddes
• Steve Heminger

• Frank McArdle
• Steve Odland (Memphis)
• Patrick E. Quinn
• Matt Rose
• Tom Skancke
• Paul Weyrich

Did not vote for approval of the report.
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Supplemental Views

• Francis X. McArdle
• Central generation of electricity gives us
  choices in fueling I would urge the Congress to
  consider raising the federal share of for state
  and local investments in electrified mass transit
  to 95 from the 80 share recommended in our
  report

• Matthew K. Rose
• I share the conclusion of the Commissions
  report that passenger rail-intercity and
  commuter-will need to grow in order to supplant
  VMTs and give Americans more affordable,
  sustainable choices in light of higher fuel
  prices, growing transportation congestion and
  related environmental concerns.

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Minority Views - Areas of Disagreement

• Federal Fuel Tax increases are not a solution.
• Unnecessarily large Federal role.
• An inappropriate definition of need.(low
  cost-benefits)
• An independent governance commission is neither
  practical nor good policy. (NASTRAC)
• New Federal restrictions on pricing and private
  investment (restricts tolling to metro areas).
• The Commission Report is inconsistent in its
  approach to earmarking.
• The Commissions energy research and investment
  recommendations are inappropriate.

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Report Recommendations

• Speeding Project Delivery
• Advancing the Federal Interest 10 Programs
• Interaction Among the Programs - Coordination
• Role of an Independent Commission (NASTRAC)
• Transition to the New Programs
• Rename Highway Trust Fund - Surface
  Transportation Trust Fund (STTF)

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Challenges
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Source Metropolitan Transportation Commission
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Source Highway Performance Monitoring System
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Long-Term Needs
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• We must integrate highway planning and funding
  into a broader focus for our entire
  transportation networkThe integration of
  highway, transit rail, waterway, and aviation
  planning is essential if were going to meet the
  demographic needs and development needs of the
  future.
• Gerald Nicely, Tennessee Commissioner of
  Transportation, at the Commissions Memphis field
  hearing.

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19
Source 2005 Highway Statistics, Table FE-__0.
20
Source U.S. Department of the Treasury
projections and Commission Staff analysis.
21
Source National Transit Database.
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Source National Transit Database.
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Solutions and Recommendations
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Long-Term Revenue Sources

• Mileage-Based Fee
• Implement Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT) fees
• Development of Transitional Strategy
• Commission recommends that the next
  transportation authorization act fund a national
  study to develop strategy for transitioning to an
  alternative to the fuel tax to fund highway and
  transit programs

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Recommendations

• Refocus Federal Program structure from 108 to 10
  Federal Programs
• Speed project delivery
• Allow use of tolls to fund new capacity for
  interstate system (over 1 million in population)
• Encourage the use of public-private partnerships
  (PPPs) in conjunction with tolling and
  congestion pricing
• Pursue the development of a fast and reliable
  rail passenger network

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Source Highway Statistics 2005, Tables SF-_B and
LGF-_B.
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Source Vision for the future U.S. intercity
passenger rail network through 2050, prepared for
the Commission by the Passenger Rail Working
Group.
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