IBTTA: States are ‘not waiting for the Federal Government to act’

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has responded to the US mid-term election results when Republicans seized control of the Senate; Patrick D. Jones, executive director and CEO said: “The transportation ballot initiatives in Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin are strong evidence that states are not waiting for the federal government to act. "Reflecting ongoing concerns over the future of the federal surface transportation reauthorisation, state and local governme
November 5, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
RSSThe International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (63 IBTTA) has responded to the US mid-term election results when Republicans seized control of the Senate; Patrick D. Jones, executive director and CEO said: “The transportation ballot initiatives in Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin are strong evidence that states are not waiting for the federal government to act.

"Reflecting ongoing concerns over the future of the federal surface transportation reauthorisation, state and local governments are embracing home-grown ways to tackle their infrastructure funding challenges.

"As we move into 2015, we need to make sure that states and localities have maximum flexibility to use the funding and financing tools that are most appropriate for them to build and maintain their vital surface transportation infrastructure.

"Whatever the final outcome of today’s Congressional elections, we are hopeful that the next Congress can, at the very least, enable the states to consider all transportation funding alternatives available. Tolling, fuel taxes, road usage charges and infrastructure banks are all valuable tools to be considered and used appropriately.

"There are no free roads. It’s time to make tough choices to ensure that drivers are safe, our infrastructure is well maintained and our economy is moving.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Transportation systems should be self-sustaining says study
    January 11, 2013
    A recent study by US public policy think tank claims the nation's growing debt and budget deficits are increasingly impacting efforts to build, upgrade and maintain transportation infrastructure. The study proposes that transportation funding should be shifted to direct user fees, long-term financing and private capital, foundation officials said in a prepared statement. The study recommends a series of tax, regulatory and organisational changes that would help modernise the nation's airports, air traffic c
    Read More
  • Good news for the ITS industry from new $105 billion US transportation reauthorisation bill
    July 11, 2012
    ITS America has applauded approval by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate of the conference report to HR 4348, (here’s the link Joseph: http://www.rules.house.gov/Media/file/PDF_112_2/LegislativeText/CRPT-112hrpt-HR4348ih.pdf ) a legislative package which includes the surface transportation reauthoriSation bill. The bill passed the House by a wide margin of 373 – 52, was subsequently approved by the Senate by a 74-19 vote, and the legislation has been signed by the President. The legislation w
    Read More
  • Taking tolling towards new opportunities
    May 18, 2016
    Vinci’s André Broto presented his views on how the tolling industry could play an important role in helping authorities ease urban congestion, to delegates at the IBTTA conference. As director of foresight and strategy at Vinci Autoroutes, France, André Broto has been spending some time considering the future of tolling in his own country and worldwide. He presented his thoughts, which include a very different angle of the causes of, and solutions to, congestion at the IBTTA’s (International Bridge, Tunnel
    Read More
  • First full-scale Hyperloop test track ‘planned for 2016’
    March 2, 2015
    According to website The Verge, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) has secured land for the first full-scale Hyperloop, planned for a 2016 launch in the California model town of Quay Valley. Building off Elon Musk's freely available designs, the crowdfunded company has marked out a five-mile stretch of Quay Valley adjacent to California's Interstate 5 freeway as a place where the innovative transportation system can be deployed. If successful, it would be the first full-size implementation of Musk'
    Read More

Highlighted Content