AASHTO - Freight Transportation Network

Chair -- James Lynch, Montana
Vice Chair -- Jeff Honefanger, Ohio
Secretary -- Jim March, FHWA
Liaison -- Leo Penne, AASHTO

Statements and Letters

House Highways and Transit Reauthorization Roll Out

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-AK) announced the introduction of a bi-partisan, six-year, $375 billion highway and transit reauthorization bill. Bryan Nicol, Indiana DOT Commissioner and AASHTO Vice President, was present to congratulate the Chairman and leadership of the Committee on introduction of this much-needed legislation.

The bill, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, or TEA LU, provides $298 billion for highways, roads and bridges and $69 billion for transit; and increases the highway minimum guarantee from 90.5 percent to 95 percent by 2009. According to the limited information that is currently available, the bill includes a number of new programs:

Congestion Relief Program

$7.5 billion core Safety Improvement Program

$1.5 billion High Risk Rural Road Safety Improvement Program

$3 billion Freight Intermodal Connectors Program

New Freedom Initiative, designed to enhance public transportation services for the disabled

$1.5 billion Safe Routes to School Program

$17.6 billion Projects of National and Regional Significance Program

Below is an Executive Summary of TEA LU, including state tables Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users TEA LU (PDF) Remarks by Bryan Nicol, Commissioner of the Indiana DOT, November 19, 2003
Nicol Remarks (PDF) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Intercity Passenger Rail Transmittal
The Intercity Passenger Rail Transmittal letter and Passenger Criteria document were delivered to the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Chairs and Ranking Members of the following Congressional Committees and subcommittees:

* Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
* Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee
* House Transportation and Infrastructure
* Railroad Subcommittee
* House Transportation/Treasury Appropriations Subcommittee
* Senate Transportation/Treasury Appropriations Subcommittee

Passenger Criteria
AASHTO's Criteria for National Intercity Passenger Rail Reform (PDF)

Intercity Passenger Rail Transmital
AASHTO's Intercity Passenger Rail Transmittal (PDF) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

AAR & ATA Cooperation Statement of American Trucking Associations and Associations of American Railroads--June 25, 2003
Common Legislative and Policy Goals (PDF)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________