Introduction
Congress directed the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the needs of America’s surface transportation system and sources of revenue to fund them over at least the next 30 years.
This report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials was developed to assist the Commission in their analysis. It supplements two earlier reports, Future Needs of the U.S. Transportation System and Surface Transportation Policy Recommendations. Three additional studies are in preparation, America’s Freight Challenge, A Conceptual Plan to Ensure That the Surface Transportation System Will Continue to Serve the Needs of the United States; and A Performance-Based, Results-Driven National Surface Transportation Program.
Revenue Report Outline
This report addresses:
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Three questions which frame the background for the revenue options to be considered, and a needs assessment summary;
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The revenue crisis Congress will have to address in 2009;
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Short-term federal revenue options for the Highway Trust Fund;
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Short-term federal revenue options outside the Highway Trust Fund;
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State and local government revenue options, and
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Long-term federal revenue options.
AASHTO is continuing its work on long-range funding issues confronting the nation’s transportation system, and will provide additional information to the Commission in the fall.
