When transportation officials get together these days, worrisome questions are in the air. How can a 2009 Highway Trust Fund shortfall be fixed? Should the gas tax be replaced as a prime financing source? Many are looking to a congressionally mandated report, expected soon, for some answers.
In the 2005 SAFETEA-LU law, Congress set up a National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission and directed it to produce “a comprehensive study” of the system’s condition, needs, revenue sources and long-term financing. The 12-member panel, chaired by Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, has been working for 18 months. “We’re in the home stretch,” says Jack Schenendorf, commission vice chairman. “I think we’ll have the report ready by the time we said, which is the end of the year.” There is speculation that the study won’t be available publicly until January.