Tolling Industry Supports All Goals of USDOT Strategic Framework; Recommends More Sustainable Transportation Revenue

WASHINGTON, DC – The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve the tolling industry, has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Notice of Request for Public Comment regarding the draft USDOT Strategic Framework and provided answers to questions detailed in the Request.

IBTTA supports the six goals – safety, economic strength & global competitiveness, equity, climate & sustainability, transformation, and organizational excellence – in the draft USDOT Strategic Framework and stands ready to assist USDOT in its implementation. In a letter to USDOT, IBTTA underscores how its work reinforces many of the same goals and objectives of the Framework.

IBTTA recommends a financial focus on revenue be added to the Framework and calls for the draft to address the role of user fees – including tolling, potential mileage-based user fees, and changes to the gas tax. The growing U.S. transportation revenue crisis is underpinned by the inability of the federal motor fuels taxes to provide a sustainable source of ongoing transportation funding and investment financing – which is due in large part to the growing fuel efficiency of modern vehicles and the conversion of vehicle propulsion to electric power and other alternative fuels. IBTTA emphasizes that there is an urgency for USDOT to recognize the need for ongoing, sustainable, and dedicated sources of transportation revenue.

“IBTTA and its members share the goal of safety as one of our highest priorities, and that toll facility owners and operators are committed to doing their part to reduce transportation-related serious injuries and fatalities,” says Pat Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA. “IBTTA’s U.S. toll operator members manage some of the most critical assets in the nation’s highway system that move people and goods reliably and productively, contributing to a vibrant and growing economy and maintaining U.S. global competitiveness.”

IBTTA points to its task forces on Sustainability and Resilience and on Diversity, Social, and Racial Inclusion in addressing the goals under climate & sustainability and equity.

In addition, IBTTA suggests that the transformation goal would benefit from added focus on relevance for decision making and the exponential growth in data and information on 21^st century mobility solutions. The full letter with comments and answers to questions can be found here.

Interviews are available with Pat Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA, and Mark Muriello, Director of Policy and Government Affairs for IBTTA. Reach out to Jennifer Walsh at [email protected] to arrange.

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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 follow us on Twitter @IBTTA.