Debate Continues on Surface Transport Report

NITL (The National Industrial Transportation League) -- Logistics Management, 2/20/2008

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) said this week he rejects an ideological approach that advocates privatization, tolling and rationing as the only solutions to the nation’s transportation infrastructure crisis. Oberstar’s comments came at a February 13 hearing on the report of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.

“We recognize the role these tools can and do play in the nation’s intermodal transportation network; however, this role is limited and must be part of a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to the development and operation of the intermodal surface transportation network,” Oberstar said.

He added: “If we are going to address the current crisis and ensure the U.S. economy does not lose ground because of our failure to keep pace with our infrastructure needs, we must be intellectually honest with ourselves and develop a new vision and commitment to financing those needs.”

At the same hearing, House Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) said that with the right precautions to protect the public interest congestion pricing and public -private partnerships can contribute to fixing some of the surface transport problems. “But they are only a very small part of the solution. The fact of the matter is a continued strong federal role is critical to solving our transportation pitfalls.”

Taking aim at the White House, DeFazio said that according to the Bush Administration, the federal government has no role to play in ensuring the movement of goods to market or easing congestion. “They apparently believe that we should leave that to private companies whose goal is to make a profit for shareholders. It is just plain wrong to continue to insist that privatization can fix 100 percent of the problems,” he said.

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