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Explore the discussion on funding levels, eligibility criteria, and support for various freight programs in the MAP-21 Freight Programs Talking Freight Seminar. Discover key concerns and priorities for highways, performance standards, national freight program, projects of national and regional significance, truck parking, and the Senate Commerce Bill.
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MAP-21 Freight Programs Talking Freight Seminar December 14, 2011 Darrin Roth Director of Highway Operations American Trucking Associations
Overall Funding for Highways • Highway funding levels are about half what is needed, but in line with political reality • New or expanded eligibility for freight rail and marine transportation dilutes highway program • Greater funding for CMAQ • Enhancements Program didn’t really get eliminated • Support performance standards
National Freight Program • $4.1 billion over 2 years – 5% of total • Oppose 10% for freight rail and maritime projects, port project eligibility • Extensive highway network eligible • 27,000 mile National Freight Network • All other Interstates • Critical Rural Corridors • Support new core program for freight, but eligibility must be narrowed due to low funding levels
Projects of National and Regional Significance (PNRS) • ATA will support provided it does not reduce funding available for highways – concerned about multimodal nature • Most critical projects unlikely to be funded because of reliance on states to submit proposals • Support a greater focus on addressing highway freight bottlenecks identified in freight plan • Need to ensure that benefit-cost analysis truly identifies best projects
Truck Parking (Jason’s Law) • Eligibility for various parking-related projects replaces current pilot program with dedicated funding • Support retention of program, but need dedicated funding
Senate Commerce Bill • Freight planning section • Multimodal grant program • Oppose truck size and weight study • Decades of experience, mounds of research make it unnecessary – we need reform, not delaying tactics • Massive burden on FHWA resources