Iowa Department of Transportation Director Mark Lowe traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to join a discussion sponsored by the White House on infrastructure that involved federal, state and local leaders.
The move was part of the White House’s attempts to shore up its infrastructure plan. Consequently, it had on hand for the discussion several members of the President’s National Economic Council, the Special Assistant to the President for Infrastructure, as well as Secretary Elaine Chao and Director Mick Mulvaney.
“The administration is still finalizing details of their infrastructure plan, but it was helpful to hear firsthand the principles they have established and the strategies they are considering, and gratifying to see state and local leaders included in the conversation,” Lowe said. “There were several themes that I and other transportation leaders found very encouraging, including greater decision-making and control at the state and local level, concerted efforts to eliminate layers of permitting that delay projects and increase their cost, and a commitment to funding strategies that meet the needs of rural states.”
The White House means to outline draft guiding principles of an infrastructure plan, with the suggested inclination to find a different approach to traditional infrastructure methodology. Their outreach to leaders from transportation, economic development, agriculture and natural resources spheres are meant to come at the problem from different angles and find means of putting greater control in the hands of state and local communities.