Skip to main content

IBTTA joins group in support of DRIVE Act tolling provisions

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has applauded the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s introduction of its surface transportation reauthorisation legislation titled the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act. It has joined twelve other organisations, including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, ITS America and the US Tolling Coalitio
June 26, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The 3804 International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has applauded the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s introduction of its surface transportation reauthorisation legislation titled the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act.

It has joined twelve other organisations, including the 4944 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 5565 American Road & Transportation Builders Association, 560 ITS America and the 5514 US Tolling Coalition in support of Section 1021 Tolling Provisions.

Patrick D. Jones, executive director and CEO of IBTTA, said: “We commend the committee for working on a bill that will give greater certainty to the states as they implement their surface transportation plans.”

IBTTA expressed strong support for Section 1021 (Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation pilot program) of the DRIVE Act which would allow States to consider the use of tolls for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the interstate system in their respective states. In addition, this section streamlines the process for approval and implementation of the pilot program – allowing states to move forward once they have met the requirements and are ready to do so.

He went on, “With limited federal revenues available to support our nation’s infrastructure, it only makes sense to give states the ability to choose the best way to pay for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the vital Interstate System within their borders. This flexibility, offered to a small number of states, provides a potential pathway to address the high-costs associated with Interstate System reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in some States – projects that might otherwise languish for lack of adequate funding.”

“We look forward to working with both Houses of Congress to forge a long-term transportation bill that promotes safety, greater mobility and productivity on the highways and provides a sustainable, predictable and long-term source of funding for the federal-aid highway program,” Jones said.

Related Content

  • August 21, 2014
    Use tolling to help rebuild interstate highways
    Following the passage of the short-term Highway Trust Fund bill, Patrick Jones, CEO of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, writing in Roll Call, writes that states should now be focused on capitalising on a key part of the Grow America Act, which will lift the ban on interstate tolling, allowing states to determine how to fund reconstruction of interstate highways. He says that now that Congress has ‘patched’ the Highway Trust Fund to save it from insolvency, it is time to get some
  • January 29, 2015
    Tolls to help fund improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge
    The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has applauded Governors Beshear (Kentucky) and Kasich (Ohio) following their announcement that they plan to use tolls to pay for at least part of the US$2.63 billion Brent Spence Bridge replacement. Brent Spence Bridge is a double deck, cantilevered truss bridge that carries Interstates 71 and 75 across the Ohio River between Covington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally designed to carry 80,000 vehicles per day, approximately 172,0
  • May 24, 2017
    IBTTA calls on Congress to repeal regulation on tolling interstate highways
    The White House has released President Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget, including a US$200 billion investment in infrastructure projects over the next 10 years with a focus on leveraging the power of public private partnerships. The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has responded, saying the government should repeal the burden of regulation and give states maximum flexibility to use financing tools to meet their local needs. 35 states and territories throughout the country have u
  • May 11, 2012
    The case for using toll revenues to fund Interstate improvements
    High road toll increases threaten new regulation, but states should be free to use toll revenue for Interstate improvements. Bob Poole reports Large toll rate increases have been implemented recently by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, justified in part to help pay for its World Trade Center project. In response, a bill was introduced in Congress that would allow the Secretary of Transportation to regulate tolls on every bridge on the country’s Interstates and other federally aided highways. F