AASHTO supports the following five FAST Act Reauthorization Core Policy Principles

  • Ensure timely reauthorization of a long-term federal surface transportation bill

    • Funding stability provided by federal transportation programs is absolutely crucial to meet states’ capital investment needs, which take multiple years to plan and construct.
    • A long-term transportation bill is needed so that there is no authorization gap upon FAST Act expiration in September 2020. Short-term program extensions cause unnecessary program disruptions and delays mobility and safety benefits to states and communities.

  • Enact a long-term, sustainable revenue solution for the Highway Trust Fund

    • Ensuring Highway Trust Fund solvency in supporting a six-year federal surface transportation bill that simply maintains current FAST Act funding levels will require $114 billion in additional revenues to the Highway Trust Fund.
    • To achieve a state of good repair, USDOT’s 2015 Conditions and Performance Report estimates highway and bridge needs at $836B and transit needs at $122B, which would require significant additional investment.
    • Federal funding solutions can draw upon the experience of 31 states that have successfully enacted transportation revenue packages since 2012.

  • Increase and prioritize formula-based federal funding provided to states 

    • The current federal highway program optimally balances national goals with state and local decision making.
    • Formula-based transportation funding reflects the successful federal-state partnership by ensuring flexibility necessary for each state to best meet its unique investment needs.

  • Increase flexibility, reduce program burdens, and improve project delivery

    • Increase programmatic and funding flexibility to plan, design, construct and operate the surface transportation system.
    • Reduce regulatory and programmatic burdens associated with federal programs that are not part of the project approval process.
    • Modernize Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Endangered Species Act processes to improve transportation and environmental outcomes and reduce delays.
    • To streamline and improve project delivery, states should be provided with opportunities to assume more federal responsibilities and associated accountability.

  • Support and ensure State DOTs’ ability to harness innovation and technology

    • Innovative approaches and technologies should be embraced to achieve a safer and more resilient, efficient and secure surface transportation system.
    • State DOTs, as infrastructure owners and operators, need the 5.9GHz spectrum for transportation safety and connected vehicle deployment processes.
    • Preserve state and local government authority to regulate operational safety of autonomous vehicles.