Statement on Release of the President’s FY 2014 Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2013
CONTACT: Kristofer Eisenla, Luna Eisenla Media
[email protected] | 202-670-5747 (mobile)

Transportation Group Stresses Federal Government’s Need for New Funding Options, Enhanced Focus on Public-Private Partnerships

WASHINGTON – During a press conference this morning in the White House Rose Garden, President Barack Obama released his Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, which includes his recently announced Rebuild America Partnership – the President’s funding priorities for the country’s transportation infrastructure.

In reaction to today’s budget release, Patrick Jones, Executive Director and CEO of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the worldwide transportation transportation association representing toll facility owners, operators and the businesses that serve them, released the following statement:

“President Obama’s infrastructure budget calls upon ‘the resources and ingenuity of our private sector’. The President is right that it will take more than federal government funding for us to meet our country’s transportation and infrastructure challenges.

As the worldwide association representing public and private sector tolling partnerships - an industry generating more than $12 billion in annual revenue supporting over 5,000 miles of road - we stand ready to answer the President’s call with tolling’s proven record.

It’s clear that the old way of federal transportation funding isn’t working. In order for us to adequately meet the infrastructure needs of our country, and to maintain safe, convenient mobility for all Americans, it is essential our leaders explore new sources of revenue such as tolling.”

Yesterday, Jones published an op-ed entitled, Fueled by Tolling, Innovation Stems from Our Local Communities, on InfrastructureUSA’s Infra Blog that called this a “crisis moment for America’s roadways, tunnels and bridges …Local officials are starving for the type of funding flexibility that tolling offers.”

Earlier this week, IBTTA released a new fact sheet entitled, Tolling in Brief, that calls upon the federal government to allow states increased flexibility in choosing the most appropriate funding options. The fact sheet stated, “The federal government can’t afford to pay for many of the transportation investments the country needs…state and local governments should have the flexibility to choose the funding tools that work best for them.”

During the release of the fact sheet, Jones remarked, “If the President and Congress are seriously looking for an infrastructure plan to help pay for rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, and at the same time strengthen our economy by putting Americans to work, then tolling should be on the table.”

In January, IBTTA launched Moving America Forward, a public awareness campaign that highlights the benefits of tolling to elected  officials, policy-makers, the media, and other interested parties.

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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.