IBTTA Statement on Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s Transportation Reauthorization Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 13, 2014
CONTACT: Kristofer Eisenla, LUNA+EISENLA media
[email protected] | 202-670-5747 (mobile)

Release of Legislative Proposal Coincides with Infrastructure Week 2014 Events

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 today on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s release of its surface transportation reauthorization legislation:

“We salute Chairman Boxer, Ranking Member Vitter, Subcommittee Chairman Carper, Subcommittee Ranking Member Barrasso and all the members of the Committee for their vigorous efforts to address the safety and preservation of our nation’s surface transportation networks,” said Patrick D. Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA.  “We recognize the challenge of developing a bipartisan transportation bill that balances infrastructure investment needs with the task of raising needed revenues. We commend the Committee for their efforts to meet this challenge.

“We are pleased that the bill would direct the Secretary to carry out a research program ‘to explore alternative transportation revenue mechanisms that preserve a user fee structure to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.’ We will continue to evaluate all provisions in the bill in the coming days.  We look forward to working with both Houses of Congress to forge a long-term transportation bill that promotes safety and productivity on the highways and provides a sustainable, predictable and long-term source of funding that is vital to state transportation programs,” Jones said.

The bill was introduced on the first day of Infrastructure Week 2014  (May 12-16, 2014), featuring events across the country that explore emerging solutions, innovative approaches and best practices that are being developed to modernize aging infrastructure. IBTTA is co-hosting a webinar, "Infrastructure Funding and Financing" with the National league of Cities on May 13, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT.

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 IBTTA’s Moving America Forward 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.