The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW Committee) has introduced a six-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal that would create a funded freight investment program. The proposal, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act, or the DRIVE Act, contains many of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors’ long-held principles, including: · A minimum annual investment of $2 billion in dedicated funding for freight infrastructure; · A freight-focused, merit-based competitive grant program with broad applicant eligibility and guaranteed funding; · State-level freight planning that calls for both public and private sector involvement and input; and · A call for the inclusion of all National Highway System freight intermodal connectors on the Primary Highway Freight Network. “Goods movement and economic prosperity are implicitly tied, impacting business productivity, job availability, and quality of life. Robust federal funding for freight infrastructure signals a commitment to reestablishing America’s place in international trade competitiveness. I applaud the bipartisan leadership and support provided by Chairman Inhofe, Ranking Member Boxer and the Committee in prioritizing freight infrastructure and accelerating project delivery included within the DRIVE Act,” said Sharon Neely, CAGTC chairman and chief deputy executive director of the Southern California Association of Governments. “This bipartisan proposal demonstrates the wide spectrum of support for freight infrastructure investment and we look forward to continued work with the Committee.” The EPW Committee is limited by jurisdiction to focus on funding and policy for our nation’s highways. The DRIVE Act renames MAP-21’s Primary Freight Network (PFN) as the “Primary Highway Freight System” – a name more accurately reflecting the network’s single-mode nature. Recognizing that freight does not move by highway alone, the bill calls for the Secretary of Transportation to consider connectivity to other freight nodes and modes when redefining the system. As CAGTC has advocated, the DRIVE Act calls for the inclusion of all National Highway System intermodal connectors on the Primary Highway Freight System. The currently-designated network does not include any of these connectors, which are needed for movement between modes but are often neglected and underfunded. Since its beginning in 2001, CAGTC has promoted the need for a freight-specific federal grant program that awards funding to projects through the use of merit-based criteria. CAGTC applauds the Senate EPW Committee for inclusion of the Assistance for Major Projects Program – or AMPP – which prioritizes projects that improve freight mobility. Freight projects are typically large-scale, frequently multimodal and cross jurisdictional borders, making them difficult to fund through traditional distribution methods such as formula programs. Competitive grant programs, like AMPP, can fund projects with multiple sources of capital financing, including public-private partnerships, significantly leveraging the federal investment. Demonstrating the large number of projects that stand to benefit from a competitive grant approach, CAGTC published in April a booklet titled “Freight Can’t Wait.” The booklet contains a sampling of significant freight infrastructure projects that stand to benefit from federal resources, such as those provided through the AMPP program. “The Senate EPW Committee has demonstrated a commitment to freight investment through the DRIVE Act. The proposal’s sustained investment plan stands to have a significant positive impact on goods movement that would benefit our nation’s economy for years to come,” said Elaine Nessle, CAGTC executive director. “CAGTC strives to improve and enhance freight mobility across all modes through strategic federal planning and investment. The DRIVE Act’s focus on improving highway freight mobility marks a substantial step in the right direction and I applaud the EPW Committee’s work and leadership.” The DRIVE Act national freight program provides a total of $13.5 billion over a six-year period. Funding would be distributed to states to improve freight mobility on the national highway freight network. The AMPP program would award a total of $2.4 billion over a six-year period through a competitive grant process.