The private sector is asking Congress pointed questions about the possibility of finalizing the surface transportation reauthorization bill a month before the mid-term elections, which could upend the balance of power on key committees.
"There's a lot at stake in this election," said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R- W.Va., Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. "We hear a lot of talk about it. I think that presents a challenge to us."
The comments came as part of summit hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday in Washington D.C.
The Chamber's positions on infrastructure investment are laid out in a letter to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
"State and local governments are taking an increasingly larger role in financing infrastructure projects," said John Drake V.P. of Transportation, Infrastructure And Supply Chain Policy for the Chamber.
"The Committee must build in increased flexibility, such as through block grants or matching funds; ensure accessibility to financial resources through bolstering state access to capital, through programs like infrastructure banks and bond banks, tax credits, and private activity bonds."
Capito is supportive of the states playing a bigger role via more emphasis on formula funding from fuel tax revenue while downplaying the federal grants favored by many localities.
"The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which I played a large part in, diffused a lot of the dollars into these discretionary programs, some of which, have not been fully funded and not fully awarded because of all the different parameters that were set up in that bill," she said.
The Chamber is also asking for "new legislation to expand opportunities for private investment in transportation. IIJA laid the groundwork for increased private sector involvement in U.S. infrastructure projects, creating opportunities for public-private partnerships."
"I think there's certainly room for private capital," said Sam Graves, R- Mo., chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
"Some P3 arrangements do not work. But a lot of those situations opens up a whole lot of capital and opportunities."
The T&I Committee has also affirmed its
"We haven't seen any new money in it in 30 years," said Graves. "We would like to get money from EVs. They are getting a free ride. They simply are using the highway with no buy in or user fees."
How much money EV user fees would add remains a mystery and many states already have their own fee structures in place.
T&I has pegged the number for maintaining highways and bridges in the neighborhood of $550 billion with separate funding streams for rail and transit.
Transit funding remains a wild card as it currently receives a 20% cut of the Highway Trust Fund, a number called into question by the Trump White House last
Transit advocates are taking the threat seriously as 38 Senators signed onto a
Per the letter, "We urge you to ensure that no less that 20% of the new Highway Trust Fund monies is allocated to the Mass Transit Account and at least $21.25 billion in additional funding is provided through the advanced appropriations in a five-year reauthorization bill."
"Predictable, long-term funding in the surface transportation authorization act is essential to prevent project delays, protect taxpayer investments, and ensure communities can plan, build, and maintain safe, modern transit systems," said Paul Skoutelas president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association.
