House Committee Chair Seeks Bridge Repair Trust Fund
In the wake of the Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed at least five persons, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, said he plans to propose a new trust fund to finance repairs and upgrades to the more than 6,000 structurally deficient bridges on the Interstate system and other major U.S. highways.
In announcing his plan at a press conference in Minneapolis, near the site of the Interstate–35 bridge that collapsed Aug. 1, Oberstar said the amount of money to be raised and the sources of the funds will be determined after federal and state highway officials provide more information on the repair costs. But background information provided by the transportation committee says that financing options include a temporary gasoline and diesel fuel user fee or a tax on oil imported to the U.S.