February 19, 2002

 

The Honorable Trent Lott
United States Senate
Washington, DC  20510

 

Dear Senator Lott:

 

The member organizations and their employees of our broad coalition of businesses and organized labor is concerned about funding levels for highways in the fiscal year 2003 budget.   As a first step in addressing this shortfall, we urge you to co-sponsor the Highway Funding Restoration Act (S. 1917).

 

The budget submitted to Congress includes an $8.6 billion dollar reduction in federal highway funding due to the Revenue Aligned Budget Authority (RABA) mechanism.  If this reduction were to occur, up to 360,000 good-paying jobs could be lost.  A state-by-state breakdown of the possible job reductions are located on our coalition’s website: http://www.a-t-m.org/.

 

Investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure provides critical benefits to the economy.  It creates much-needed new jobs.  According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, every $1 billion invested in transportation construction creates 42,100 new jobs.  A more efficient and safer transportation system is critical to our future economic growth, international competitiveness, quality of life and national security.

 

Furthermore, increased investment in our transportation system relieves congestion and provides environmental improvements.  For example, congestion caused by an inadequate network of roads, highways, bridges and transit systems costs our economy $72 billion a year.

 

The Highway Trust Fund has a significant unobligated balance that should be used to at least maintain FY 2002 funding levels for surface transportation.  The federal government collects user revenues into the Highway Trust Fund for the dedicated purpose of transportation infrastructure improvements.   With our nation continuing its economic recovery, now is the time to utilize part of the unobligated balance to ensure the safety and security of our nation’s transportation system as well as prevent the unnecessary loss of family wage jobs.

 

The over 300 member organizations of the Americans For Transportation Mobility coalition stand ready to work with the Congress to address this critical issue.

 

Sincerely,
Americans For Transportation Mobility