IBTTA Welcomes House Transportation Subcommittee Hearing Today on Financial Status of the Highway Trust Fund

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
CONTACT: Kristofer Eisenla, Luna Eisenla Media
[email protected] | 202-670-5747 (mobile)

Executive Director Calls for a “Robust Conversation on Expanding the Use of Alternative Funding Options Available”

WASHINGTON, DC – In advance of today’s House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit hearing on the current financial status of the Highway Trust Fund, International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) Executive Director and CEO, Patrick Jones, welcomed the hearing and called on lawmakers to hold a “robust conversation on expanding the use of alternative funding options available”.

Today’s hearing, chaired by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), entitled How the Financial Status of the Highway Trust Fund Impacts Surface Transportation Programs, is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. The hearing witnesses will include the Honorable Polly Trottenberg, Under Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Mr. Kim P. Cawley, Unit Chief, Natural and Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit, Congressional Budget Office.

“America’s transportation system is incredibly diverse, from rural highways in sparsely populated states, to commuter roads in large metropolitan areas, to freight corridors between major population centers,” said IBTTA Executive Director and CEO, Patrick Jones. "No single funding or financing option is right for every new or existing highway. That’s why we welcome today’s hearing and encourage lawmakers to give the necessary attention to alternative funding options, like tolling, that provide a great benefit to states looking for ways to bridge the funding gap.”

Earlier this month, Jones penned an op-ed in the Hill publication, Roll Call, titled, “A Pragmatic Federal Budget Fix: User-Financed Transportation” that pointed out the serious choice Congress is faced with, “Do we stick with the same funding strategy that now provides dwindling revenues or do we explore alternative funding options like tolling?” The op-ed continued, “There is sound precedent for greater state flexibility in choosing the road funding and financing strategies that work most effectively for them.”

In January, IBTTA launched Moving America Forward, a national public awareness campaign highlighting the benefits of tolling to educate the public, elected officials, policymakers and the media.

# # #

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 tolling. Founded in 1932, IBTTA has members in more than 20 countries and 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.