Infra Insight Blog

Representatives from a coalition of Departments of Transportation (DOTs) across the United States have joined to send a letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner  to oppose inclusion into the House's surface transportation reauthorization bill two amendments, introduced by Senator Bingaman, to the recently passed S. 1813, entitled Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). The DOTs that signed the letter include Arizona, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, Kansas, Virginia, and Ohio.
 
The DOTs say the two provisions of note (specifically, section 4039 and section 104(c)(1)(C) of Title 23USC as amended by section 1105)  would remove or discourage important optional financing tools that states can use to build, maintain, and operate highway infrastructure. The letter, which can be read in full here, asks that the House not include either of these provisions in HR 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, and requests that in conference, the House stand firm against the Senate provisions and not include either in a conference report. 
 
The letter suggests that the coalition may take other joint positions on key provisions of the bill and in the process may be expected to grow its base of support.