House T&I Freight Panel Releases Final Report

The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee's Special Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation wrapped up six months of work this week with the release of a report that examines the status of the nation's freight transportation system and made recommendations for improving the system to strengthen the economy. The panel, created by T&I Committee, Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.)  was led by Chairman John Duncan (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Members Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). The panel found what AGC and other transportation stakeholders have consistently claimed – that the current state of highway infrastructure does not adequately serve the need of the moving goods throughout the country. Further, they said it was critical for Congress to address the looming shortfall facing the Highway Trust Fund in 2015.  In addition to highways, the panel looked at the movement of goods across all modes, rail, water and air.  Some of the key recommendations made by the panel to Congress include: The panel held six public hearings, three roundtable discussions, and numerous facility tours and briefings to look at four major freight transportation issues. The panel's report recommends that Congress create a "comprehensive" national freight transportation policy that designates a national, multimodal freight network; safeguard "robust" public investment in all transportation modes on which freight moves; promote and speed up projects that improve and allow for the efficient movement of goods; authorize "dedicated, sustainable funding" through a grant program for freight projects that are Projects of National and Regional Significance; direct the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary to identify and recommend "sustainable sources of revenue across all modes of transportation that would provide necessary investment in the nation's multimodal freight network"; and review those recommendations by the Transportation Secretary and then develop specific funding and revenue options for freight transportation projects before the reauthorization of MAP-21 next fall. Although the panel did not offer any specific recommendations on how to address funding for our nation’s critical infrastructure, it did recognize the importance of freight movement to our nation’s economy and highlighted the need for sustainable sources of revenue for investing in the nation’s multimodal freight network. AGC is encouraged by the report from the panel and looks forward to working with Members of Congress and the administration to ensure that the recommendations made by the panel are addressed.   The full 103-page report, "Improving the Nation's Freight Transportation System: Findings and Recommendations of the Special Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation," is available here.