WATCH: In EPW Subcommittee Hearing, Kelly Pushes for Rural Transportation Planning Support and Better Roads on Tribal Lands

This week, during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee hearing on the Federal Highways Administration's (FHWA) proposed FY27 budget, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly pressed for the need to strengthen transportation planning resources for rural communities and improve road infrastructure on tribal lands.

Kelly highlighted how rural communities are often left behind in the transportation planning process because Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) do not receive dedicated federal funding: "Years ago, Congress created an equivalent program for rural communities called 'regional transportation planning organizations' but there's never been dedicated funding provided in the highway trust fund to fund them. I think that's been a real disservice to rural communities; it's another way where they're just left behind. Projects that go through a local planning process are delivered more efficiently with fewer delays and have more community support and all of that likely means that projects can be delivered at lower costs when we do this and we fund them."

Kelly raised concerns about the poor conditions of roads on the Navajo Nation and the challenges they create for students and essential services: "As you know, many roads on tribal lands are in very poor shape. On the Navajo Nation, we have hundreds of miles of unpaved, poorly maintained roads. They often wash out in rainstorms, school buses get stuck taking kids to and from school, and even teachers have a hard time getting to these schools, so it's hard to find teachers who want to work on the Navajo Nation because the roads are so poor. Kids there then get a poorer education. All of this is a real problem, and I think we need to look at how the tribal transportation program, managed by the Federal Highway Administration, can help fix this. We need to make sure that this program is well funded, but we also need to make sure that tribes aren't bogged down in undue permitting processes."

Sen. Kelly questions witnesses at an EPW Committee hearing.

Click here to download a video of Kelly's remarks. See the full transcript below:

Senator Kelly:

Mr. McMaster, thank you for being here today. I want to discuss transportation planning in rural communities. To help facilitate transportation planning and local buy-in, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, or MPOs, bring local leaders together in urban areas to identify regional transportation priorities.

Would you agree that these MPOs are effective at bringing together local leaders to develop and execute projects?

Federal Highways Administrator Sean McMaster:

Yes, metropolitan planning organizations and rural transportation planning organizations play an important role in making sure that not only local but state transportation plans are developed consistent with the priorities of all of the communities within the state.

Kelly:

I agree, and that's why MPOs get dedicated funding out of the highway trust fund. But MPOs only exist in urban areas, and small cities and rural communities often get left out. Years ago, Congress created an equivalent program for rural communities called Regional Transportation Planning Organizations but there has never been dedicated funding provided in the highway trust fund to fund them. And I think that's been a real disservice to rural communities and is another way where they're just left behind.

Projects that go through a local planning process are delivered more efficiently, with fewer delays and have more community support, and all of that likely means that projects can be delivered at lower costs.

So, Administrator McMaster, in your experience as a transportation professional, do you think that dedicated planning funding would help rural communities deliver projects faster and at a lower cost?

McMaster:

I do know that these rural communities and the RTPOs work closely with their state partners. If you're considering that in reauthorization or other legislation, we'd be happy to work with you and provide technical assistance as to what that could mean and how that could be implemented.

Kelly:

Has the Federal Highway Administration looked at opportunities to provide dedicated transportation planning funding to RTPOs to ensure that these entities have the resources to provide quality support for rural communities?

McMaster:

We do provide technical assistance within our division offices for our rural transportation planning organizations. As far as specific funding, I'm not aware of that. But we do provide technical assistance and work closely with the RTPOs in the planning process.

Kelly:

Well, let me just say I hope that we can look for opportunities to work together on this to make sure rural communities have the support they need. And we're going to look for opportunities in the surface transportation bill to do this.

I also want to ask a question about the challenges facing tribal communities. As you know, many roads on tribal lands are in very poor shape. On the Navajo Nation, we have hundreds of miles of unpaved, poorly maintained roads. They often wash out in rainstorms, school buses get stuck taking kids to and from school, and even teachers have a hard time getting to these schools, so it's hard to find teachers who want to work on the Navajo Nation because the roads are so poor. Kids there then get a poorer education. All of this is a real problem, and I think we need to look at how the tribal transportation program, managed by the Federal Highway Administration, can help fix this. We need to make sure that this program is well funded, but we also need to make sure that tribes aren't bogged down in undue permitting processes.

So, Administrator McMaster, is it accurate to assume that most tribal transportation projects take place on tribal trust land?

McMaster:

That's my understanding, but I share your interest in supporting our tribal nations across the country. It's a significant need that they have. Resources are challenging for tribal communities. We have a number of programs directly addressing tribal needs and tribal projects, and we look forward to working with you to address these needs further.

Kelly:

Thank you for that. I've spent a good amount of time on the Navajo Nation in Arizona. It's almost as big as West Virginia and has a population of 225,000 tribal members, so it's incredibly rural with significant challenges delivering services, and power, water and roads are such a challenge. To get these roads improved and to get a company up there to do the work, it's often twice as expensive as getting it done in Maricopa County.

I appreciate your willingness to work with us on this to improve the infrastructure on these tribal lands. Thank you.