IBTTA Statement on Highway Funding Proposal by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 18, 2014
CONTACT: Kristofer Eisenla, LUNA+EISENLA media
[email protected] | 202-670-5747 (mobile)

WASHINGTON, DC – The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the worldwide association representing toll facility owners and operators and businesses that serve them, released the following statement on the highway funding proposal released today by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).

The following statement is from Patrick D. Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA:

“We applaud Senators Murphy and Corker for their gutsy proposal to increase the federal gasoline and diesel taxes by six cents in each of the next two years to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund from going broke. We also applaud the proposal to index the gas tax to inflation to ensure that it maintains its purchasing power into the future.

While there is not much stomach for increasing fuel taxes in an election year, motorists have said in numerous polls that they would be willing to pay higher fees to support road infrastructure if they know where the money is going.  That means spending it on road construction and repairs.

In the long term, however, the fuel tax is not a sustainable source of funding for highway infrastructure.  This was the conclusion of the two Congressional commissions on revenue and finance created several years ago under SAFETEA-LU and of numerous other studies.

That’s why we also support the Obama Administration’s proposal to eliminate the prohibition on tolling existing Interstate highways, subject to the approval of the Secretary, for purposes of their reconstruction.  This proposal would give states greater flexibility to use tolling to fund urgently needed reconstruction activities on all components of their highway systems.

Tolling is a proven, effective tool that already funds and finances more than 5,000 miles of roads, bridges and tunnels in 35 states.  It will take a mix of funding solutions to keep our roads and bridges safe and reliable.  All options should be on the table so that states can choose the funding methods that work best for them.

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

In 2013, IBTTA launched Moving America Forward, a public awareness campaign that highlights the benefits of tolling to policy-makers, the media, and other interested parties. For additional information on the campaign, including fact-sheets, background documents and other materials, please click here.

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About IBTTA

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them. Founded in 1932, IBTTA has members in more than 20 countries on six continents. Through advocacy, thought leadership and education, members are implementing state-of-the-art, innovative user-based transportation financing solutions to address the critical infrastructure challenges of the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ibtta.org or join us on Twitter @IBTTA or #TollRoads.