US Transportation Secretary Mineta Launches Campaign Urging Lawmakers to Pass Six-Year Highway and Transit Bill
9/11/03
Contact: Robert Johnson (202) 366-4570
DOT 108-03 (Revised: Changes 90 million to 90,000 jobs)
US Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta tomorrow will launch a four-day campaign across America reminding congressional lawmakers of the potential economic harm caused by a delay in passing a full six-year federal surface transportation reauthorization bill.
The Secretary will be joined by senior transportation officials at events in several cities throughout the country calling on Congress to fulfill its obligation to local and state legislators by avoiding short-term extensions of the current legislation, called TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century), as well as Congressional overspending that could bankrupt the highway trust fund in as little as three years.
Friday (Sept. 12) the Secretary will embark on a three-day trip to San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco reminding audiences to urge Congress to focus on a bill that keeps highway and transit projects moving. The initiative also includes public events around the country by Federal Highway Administrator Mary Peters, Federal Transit Administrator Jenna Dorn and National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge. The Secretary and each of these senior officials will tell audiences that the potential delay in passage of a full six-year plan could hurt the economy and jeopardize the ability of state and local transportation leaders to plan and manage important transportation infrastructure projects in their communities.
"The Bush administration has proposed the greatest federal transportation investment in our nation's history," said Secretary Mineta. "Most states can confirm what this Administration has said from the beginning -- that avoiding the responsibility of passing a full six-year reauthorization bill would bring us one step closer to crisis.
"Americans cannot afford the added construction costs and potential job losses associated with Congressional inaction, so I urge the Congress to fulfill its obligation to help state and local transportation leaders meet the needs of their communities," he said.
According to an August survey by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) of 45 state transportation agencies and the District of Columbia, these agencies documented that any delay in passage of a full six-year reauthorization bill could compound state budget problems and result in delayed construction projects, added construction costs, and lost jobs. In addition, 33 of the 45 transportation agencies said that a short-term extension, rather than enactment of a full six-year bill, could mean $2.1 billion in project delays and the loss of over 90,000 jobs.
As part of the campaign, Secretary Mineta tomorrow will take his message to southern California during groundbreaking for the SR 125 South Toll Road project, a key element in enhancing the surface transportation system in the growing San Diego area; Peters will stress the importance of promptly passing this reauthorization legislation to an estimated 200 representatives of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) annual convention in Washington, DC; Dr. Runge will explain the need for continued investment in transportation and safety when he addresses MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) in New Orleans; and Dorn will keynote a plenary session of an estimated 700 rail and transit stakeholders at Railvolution 2003 in Atlanta.
On Saturday, Secretary Mineta will underscore again the importance of this legislation when he announces a grant for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority in Los Angeles, CA and, on Sunday, for the Municipal Transportation Agency in San Francisco. On Monday, Peters will present remarks to the annual Southeastern Association of Highway and Transportation Officials meeting in Charleston, W.V.
Earlier this week, Secretary Mineta sent a letter reminding lawmakers that failure to pass reauthorization legislation by Sept. 30 would result in a shutdown of key federal highway safety administration programs and the furlough of federal workers.
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