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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
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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