Check out Project Chariot
Posted on 05/19/2006 11:03:20 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
WASHINGTON -- Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced on Tuesday a White House initiative to relieve highway, aviation and freight congestion, largely with the help of private fees and tolls.
"Congestion is not a fact of life. We need a new approach and we need it now," he said.
The plan includes fast-tracking a modernized air traffic control system and building extra-wide interstate highways that could serve as "corridors of the future," he said.
Because of "trucks stalled in traffic, cargo sitting on the dock at overwhelmed seaports (and) airplanes circling over crowded airports, congestion is costing America an estimated $200 billion a year," he said.
Mineta, speaking to the National Retail Association, said the administration has developed a National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network, a broad blueprint for federal, state and local cooperation.
With the help of more airline user fees, truck tolls and other types of private fees, government will use "existing transportation networks better and add capacity where it makes the most sense," he said.
For example, the Transportation Department is seeking $100 million from Congress to help pay for the building of transportation corridors that might involve toll lanes for semitrailer trucks, as well as tracks for commuter trains and space for large power lines, a department spokesman said.
Creating a corridor could involve connecting unfinished roads, widening existing ones or building new stretches of roadway.
"We will embark upon a competitive process to select three to five 'corridors of the future' that have the greatest potential to relieve traffic based on current and projected growth patterns," he said.
Also, transportation officials will prod bus systems to "tailor services specifically for rush-hour commuters; speed up the review process for highway projects under way and seek commitments from major employers in the region to allow more of their employees to flex their schedules and/or telecommute," he said.
To accomplish the goals, states must "open up their transportation infrastructure to private investment opportunities" because tax dollars are scarce, he said. At the same time, "major financial institutions and their clients are expressing increasing willingness to invest billions of dollars in roads and airports."
Mineta said trucking industry officials have said they would accept toll roads, as long as they included truck-only lanes.
Mineta also said the White House would push Congress to change the funding structure of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund by moving toward user fees instead of larger taxes on passenger tickets and fuel.
He promised to "set ambitious permitting schedules for these projects ... without sacrificing appropriate environmental protections."
According to The Associated Press, five years ago, Mineta said "congestion and delay not only waste our time as individuals, they also burden our businesses and our entire economy."
When a reporter asked why it took so long to come up with a congestion strategy, Mineta said the Transportation Department first had to win passage of the six-year, $286.4 billion highway and mass transit bill. Greg Cohen, president of the American Highway Users Alliance, told the AP he's glad transportation officials are finally focusing on traffic jams.
"It is actually groundbreaking to see the Transportation Department say, 'Congestion is not necessary and we can make it a thing of the past,' " Cohen said.
But, he said, "I don't see a whole lot here in terms of actually paying for this stuff."
Cohen said the publicity surrounding earmarks to the highway bill -- epitomized by the "bridge to nowhere," a $223 million span in Alaska to an island with a population of about 50 -- made it clear that the highway program isn't doing what it's supposed to.
"Folks want to get out of traffic," Cohen said.
You think 1000 feet of rock won't stop any residual radiation?
""Congestion is not a fact of life. We need a new approach and we need it now," he said."
LOL!
This from the guy who insists on TSA workers frisking granny to avoid "profiling" muslims...
"three to five 'corridors of the future'"
Maybe they should run north across the Mexican border.
That sure looks like our "future" to me.
"Question 1: Why is that clown still on the job?"
Anser: Because Bush is not a conservative.
How about: every penny that is paid in fuel taxes, Federal, State, etc. ... actually goes to maintaining the roads.
Check out Project Chariot
That said, I'd suggest a monorail - like on the Simpsons.
That would be a good start. Same goes for licensing and registration fees, taxes on auto parts, etc.
What a concept!
It will never happen with all the big spending republicans and democrat politicians.
In the future could you practice reading comprehension before firing off knee-jerk responses?
The article specifically says that these tolls and fees are to BUILD new roads and facilities. Regarding roads, they aren't talking about tolling existing ones, but rather new roads will be tolled as a means to pay for them and get them built faster.
We need new roads, so exactly how do you suggest we pay for them? Be specific.
You are so right. Most people are so old fashioned in their way of thinking, especially management at allot of businesses. In many many cases having to physically be somewhere to work is a thing of the past. There isn't anywhere near enough attention given to telecommuting/conferencing.
Traveling to a job is so 1990s lol.
how about instead of the nuke, use that bomb they were talking about detonating near vegas? then no whining about using nukes.
Uh ... the fuel taxes that were to go for road construction and mantainence (both federal and state) that are used to support almost everything else but?
Specific enough?
**
Question 1: Why is that clown still on the job?
THAT was my first thought, but then it quickly passed when I remembered that the Clintons and the Bushs are following the CFR plan into globalism!
The point is, I expect a lot of today's traffic congestion problem will correct itself within the next 5-10 years.
Not the solution I would choose. How are people supposed to get to work?
Lucky me, I live less than 2 miles from my work and I have a bicycle. Problem is that every product sold must be transported, and these costs you suggest will be felt in every sector of our economy.
Depends on the state, but in Texas even if 100% of those taxes went back to highways only, it wouldn't be enough. Partly from inflation eating away at the constant per gallon tax, but also because the feds are looking to back away from their 80-90% funding of many road projects.
Thus Texas is moving to toll financing for major road projects, with preference to private firms. The only other options are to raise taxes or not build the roads. Which is the most conservative approach, user fees or forcing every taxpayer to fund roads that they may not choose to use? Is it conservative or liberal to try to reduce the percentage of roads that are funded by the fed gov't?
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