Insights - March/April 2018 - 8

approval of infrastructure projects that address bottlenecks on the
U.S. freight network.
Other trade associations with a focus on transportation have a
variety of opinions and expectations about what needs to be done,
echoing the disparate focus on how to pay for the improvements.
The growing attention to infrastructure also was evidenced
in a two-day lobbying blitz during early March, led by the National
Association of Manufacturers and the Associated General Contractors of America, which included more than 120 associations.
Joung Lee, director of policy for the American Association of
State Highway Transportation Officials, told Insights, "Everyone has
been waiting for that first marker from the administration. Now we
have that. The goal would be to get the package across the finish

8 Intermodal Insights | March/April 2018

line before the August recess."
While supporting the passage of legislation, Lee also noted
the absence of a fix for the Highway Trust Fund, saying that
"AASHTO sees that as a backbone for infrastructure funding. We
hope that through an infrastructure bill or reauthorization that the
Highway Trust Fund is put in good stead for years to come."
He acknowledged the challenges in finding political
consensus for funding options on the federal level, questioned
proposals to shift program decisions to the federal level from
state agencies and praised the administration for its outreach
efforts.
At the same time, he noted that 31 states have addressed
their transport funding needs since 2012 by raising fuel taxes or
transport-related fees.
American Trucking Associations CEO Chris
Spear said, "The fuel tax is the most conservative, cost-effective and viable solution. Ninetynine cents of every dollar goes directly to road
and bridge maintenance, and it doesn't add a
penny to the deficit."
Tyler Rushforth, who heads ATA's Intermodal
Motor Carriers Conference, stressed the
importance of continuing the funding for freight
programs that was seen in the FAST Act of
2015. "The greater the direct funding source the
better it is for motor carriers that benefit from
exit gates, bridges and other road projects,"
Rushforth said. "The longer we don't have a
bigger stream of funding, the worse it is. There
isn't stasis in the world of infrastructure."
"As major shippers, retailers face challenges
every day as they work to move freight quickly,
efficiently and safely to deliver products and
meet consumer demand amid a rapid rise in
e-commerce," said National Retail Federation
CEO Matthew Shay. "We hope bipartisan
discussions will advance meaningful solutions
to our infrastructure needs, including a longterm sustainable funding source that treats all
transportation system users fairly." The retailers
haven't yet taken a position on a fuel tax increase
as an option as they evaluate all possibilities for
funding.
The Association of American Railroads commended the administration for a commitment to
streamline the federal permitting process, while
also noting that "the most important aspect to
any such [funding] package remains the integrity
of the Highway Trust Fund. Policymakers should
make every effort to return surface transportation funding to a truly equitable, user-pay system
as originally designed."
American Association of Port Authorities
President Kurt Nagle said, "Our country needs
world-class ports and modern infrastructure to
remain competitive. Failure to modernize the
nation's infrastructure could lead to a $4 trillion
loss of GDP by 2025. We are encouraged by this
important step toward modernization."
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - March/April 2018
