2010 Action Agenda

Transportation investment can be an important component to sustain economic recovery. At the very least, we believe that it is essential to maintain the highway, highway safety, and transit programs at currently authorized funding levels. We must address how it will be possible to maintain the Federal investment in our nation's transportation infrastructure. The Federal government currently contributes approximately 45 percent of the capital investment in highways and transit or 21 percent of overall investment when including operations and maintenance. With a decline in commercial heavy truck purchases, improving vehicle fuel economy, and the economic downturn, the Highway Trust Fund receipts have recently experienced a series of cash flow problems for the first time since the Trust Fund's inception in 1956. In order to just maintain the spending levels seen in the current authorizing legislation, SAFETEA-LU, additional revenues must be forthcoming. Otherwise, the current Federal aid highway and transit programs will need to be cut back drastically in 2010 and beyond.