More than 200 organizations and elected officials recently sent a letter to Congress urging the
a change to the federal transportation program.
“For decades, federal policy has prioritized high-speed roadway travel over all other types of Transportation,” the letter said. “As a result, generations of Americans have been stripped of transportation choice and have not known a time when alternatives to driving and increasing congestion were safe and convenient. We urge this Congress to unlock the enormous economic, health, and environmental benefits trapped in outdated policy, and set a new vision for American transportation.”
The letter asked Congress to consider funding multiple programs in fiscal year 2020 appropriations – including the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program, the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development program and the Capital Investments Grants (CIG) program – and keeping the Highway Trust Fund solvent.
The letter also asked Congress to consider funding transit, passenger rail and multimodal programs at historic and/or Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act levels this year, as well as investing in biking transit, and walking, and allowing communities to regulate new technologies.
Current policy has permitted the transportation system to fall into disrepair, the letter said. Also, the focus on new construction has caused more congestion and more emissions while removing transportation choices.