The International Bridge, Toll and Turnpike Association (63 IBTTA) has applauded the Grow America Act 2.0 just released by the US Administration and US DOT. It says that once again, the Administration has boldly called for lifting the ban on Interstate tolling for the purpose of reconstruction, giving states greater flexibility to meet their challenging infrastructure and surface transportation needs.
The six-year, US$478 is said to be US$126 billion more than current investment levels and US$238 billion more than estimated Highway Trust Fund revenues over the period.
In addition, Patrick D. Jones, executive director and CEO of IBTTA stated, “IBTTA fully supports the Administration's proposed requirement that any new toll facilities on Federal-aid highways use non-cash all electronic tolling as of October 1, 2016."
Javier Rodriguez, executive director of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and president of IBTTA said, "This good news comes as IBTTA members meet in Washington, D.C. and visit congressional offices this afternoon. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to pass a long-term surface transportation bill."
The American Road and Transport Builders Association (ARBTA) has also analysed (link http://www.artba.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Admin-Budget-Analysis.pdf) the bill in depth, commenting “With the release his FY 2016 budget proposal, President Obama has put forth a plan to stabilise the Highway Trust Fund and reauthorise the federal surface transportation programs. Now the ball is in Congress’s court.”
Commenting on the bill, anti-tolling Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates (ATFI) Julian Walker said in a statement to The Hill, “The recycled plan to lift the ban on tolling existing interstates has aged horribly in the year since it was first offered.”
“Tolling interstate lanes which drivers now freely access is an inefficient financing mechanism that is the worst possible approach to raising transportation revenue,” Walker continued. “The idea has already been rejected by lawmakers, the public, and community leaders in the few states with a federal exception to the tolling prohibition.”
The six-year, US$478 is said to be US$126 billion more than current investment levels and US$238 billion more than estimated Highway Trust Fund revenues over the period.
In addition, Patrick D. Jones, executive director and CEO of IBTTA stated, “IBTTA fully supports the Administration's proposed requirement that any new toll facilities on Federal-aid highways use non-cash all electronic tolling as of October 1, 2016."
Javier Rodriguez, executive director of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and president of IBTTA said, "This good news comes as IBTTA members meet in Washington, D.C. and visit congressional offices this afternoon. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to pass a long-term surface transportation bill."
The American Road and Transport Builders Association (ARBTA) has also analysed (link http://www.artba.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Admin-Budget-Analysis.pdf) the bill in depth, commenting “With the release his FY 2016 budget proposal, President Obama has put forth a plan to stabilise the Highway Trust Fund and reauthorise the federal surface transportation programs. Now the ball is in Congress’s court.”
Commenting on the bill, anti-tolling Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates (ATFI) Julian Walker said in a statement to The Hill, “The recycled plan to lift the ban on tolling existing interstates has aged horribly in the year since it was first offered.”
“Tolling interstate lanes which drivers now freely access is an inefficient financing mechanism that is the worst possible approach to raising transportation revenue,” Walker continued. “The idea has already been rejected by lawmakers, the public, and community leaders in the few states with a federal exception to the tolling prohibition.”
