Annaba, our infrastructure is failing, our transportation relies on automobiles, we are behind the times and we do need improvements and it isn't just repaying roads. Although, when you live in Alaska, it is a necessary evil!
of course. The first Stimulus had a lot of road paving, why didn't we hit the critical bridges, and say NYC underground? Recall I said my little road was done 2x, and the sidewalks - none of which were critical.
It costs money to do this, i'm fine with
critical ( imminent need) infrastructure, like "d" or "f" rated bridges, but we' also got huge debt problems.
So I need to know just exactly what critical needs aren't being met? If the REpubs are holding them up - it's inexcusable.
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http://news.yahoo.com/u-lawmakers-voice-optimism-transportation-bill-talks-221810789.html
Prospects for a deal to fund U.S. transportation projects over the long term appeared to brighten somewhat on Thursday as key House and Senate lawmakers described their negotiations in more optimistic terms.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the talks had improved in the last 24 hours and he was hopeful for an agreement before current authority for road, bridge and rail funding expires on June 30.
Congress has been struggling to approve a long-term transportation bill since last fall. Nearly 3 million construction jobs depend on the outcome.
House of Representatives Republicans have insisted on consolidating some federal transportation programs and streamlining environmental reviews of road projects in order to speed up construction. They also want to drop a proposal to use gasoline taxes to help pay for ancillary transportation "enhancements" such as bicycle lanes, flower beds and other streetscape improvements.
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http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/...ted-driving-congress-20120622,0,1469237.story
The bill’s writing has been complicated by an 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal tax that isn’t bringing in enough money to maintain highway and transit spending at current levels, creating new fights over how funds are spent.
The anti-distracted driving money was included in the Senate bill in response to what John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, called "a growing crisis in this country.’’
In 2010, 3,092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Black has asked the House to instruct its negotiators on the transportation bill to seek to remove the incentive fund. She said she supports a study of distracted driving to "identify the most effective methods to educate drivers and enhance states' understanding of these issues so that they can enact and tailor laws best suited to the individual needs of their states.’’
The Senate bill would provide financial incentives to states for requiring ignition interlock devices for DUI offenders and establishing graduated licensing programs that restrict teenagers' driving privileges. But the current House GOP drive is aimed only at the distracted driving incentives.
