Day 050 | |
  | Infrastructure Financing From Point A to Point B: Fixing U.S. Transportation Systems Steve Heminger, Executive Director, SF Regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission John Horsley, Executive Director, American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials Michael J. Scanlon, General Manager and CEO, San Mateo County Transit District; Executive Director, Caltrain Asha Weinstein Agrawal, MTI National Transportation Center Finance Director Polly Trottenberg, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation - Keynote Speaker Mortimer Downey, Chair of the MTI Board of Trustees; Former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation - Moderator |
| If you have ever been stuck in traffic on the Bay Bridge, late to meetings, or have had a ruined weekend because you couldn’t make it to a destination in time, you know that California suffers from a major transportation infrastructure problem. From pot holes jarring people’s necks and backs, to bridges collapsing nationwide, thousands of commuters are being affected every day by America’s inadequate and faltering transportation infrastructure system. At the upcoming FREE Commonwealth Club transportation infrastructure summit, experts will examine what can and must be done to ameliorate this dire situation. U.S. Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Policy Trottenberg will headline a panel of national transportation leaders to explore solutions to this serious crisis. Trottenberg works toward implementing the president’s priorities for transportation including safety and creating jobs. The DOT employs more than 55,000 employees with a $70 billion budget that oversees air, maritime and surface transportation missions. For 12 years she worked extensively on transportation, public works, energy and environmental issues in the U.S. Senate, for Senators Barbara Boxer, Charles Schumer and Daniel Patrick Moynahan. |
This is the sort of presentation where I couldn't really disagree with anything that the panelists offered by way of future transportation plans. Our infrastructure is in need of repair, the current gas-tax doesn't even cover the basic maintenance, the Republican leadership cannot be seen to waver on their no-new-tax promises, and the Chinese and European commitment to infrastructure and transportation dwarfs our feeble attempts.
What to do?
Probably, pull out our collective fingers, and get stuff done.
I was very impressed with the panelists, and especially with Polly Trottenberg who is not a transit professional, but clearly knew her stuff, particularly during the Q and A session.
Tiger Links
DOT Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery(TIGER) Grants USDOT 2010
TIGER Discretionary Grant (TDG) Applications Overview
Other Links
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (WIKI) - Wonder why Lautenberg voted nay
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