Proposed Surface Transportation Bill Would Harm People, the Environment

"The science is clear: more and better transportation options are crucial for a sustainable future, and the current car dependent system is financially wasteful, harmful to the climate and public health, and detrimental to advancing equity.

"Communities around the country are reeling from toxic air pollution, fossil fuels are contributing to costly climate change impacts and families are struggling under the burdensome costs of car ownership, which is the second-largest household expense for many families.

"Yet this bill doubles down on investing in a fossil fuel- and car-centric transportation system, squandering opportunities to put money in peoples' pockets and solve the climate crisis.

"The public is asking for transportation investments that give families more options for getting around. What the committee released looks like the highway contractors' wish list-no surprise given the influence D.C. trade groups have exerted over infrastructure policy.

"What we need is visionary leadership from Congress and expanded transportation options that support economic mobility and healthier communities. This bill fails to provide that."

Bill provisions of note:

• The bill attempts to stop the Secretary of Transportation from arbitrarily delaying, withholding, or canceling grants. It's unclear how effective the bill's provisions would be in stopping the White House's pattern of using transportation grants as a tool of political repression.
• The bill forces states to impose new punitive fees on electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or face having their federal apportionments cut.
• The bill eliminates programs that have been proven to effectively cut pollution from ports, remove highways dividing neighborhoods, and built electric-vehicle charging infrastructure across the nation.

Resources

• Report on the high cost of car ownership and the $6.2 trillion in potential savings for individuals and the country if more is invested in car-alternative transportation options.
• Article on the White House's abuse of transportation grant funding.
• Blog on the basics of surface transportation authorization.
• Blog on the influence of highway lobbyists.
• Blog on electric vehicles and the Highway Trust Fund