U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters Monday said President Bush's $68 billion budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation will help fund the department's safety programs, finance congestion relief programs
for the nation's roads, and honor the six-year transportation funding commitment under SAFETEA-LU.
"This budget helps us move forward on a new course that delivers high levels of safety, takes advantage of modern technology and financing mechanisms, and eases congestion with efficient and reliable transportation systems," Secretary Peters said.
But Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, said the Bush budget proposes to cut $1.8 billion from the Highway program, $200 million from the Transit program and $750 million from the Airport Improvement program.
"In the budget, the administration is failing to meet the spending commitments made under SAFETEA-LU for highway and transit investment," Sandherr said. "Instead of a practical solution to fix the looming Highway Trust Fund crisis, which would guarantee full funding to states, the administration relies on smoke and mirrors by shifting money from the transit account."
Peters said the budget places a strong focus on fighting congestion, building on the department's efforts to identify and implement new, innovative ways to fight gridlock on the roads and in the air. To help supplement these efforts, she said, the budget also provides a record $10.1 billion for transit programs.
"If last-year's record traffic jams and flight delays taught us anything, it is that traditional approaches are not capable of producing the results we need to keep America's economy growing."
Secretary Peters said the budget also encourages innovation in fighting gridlock by proposing to use $175 million in inactive earmarks and 75 percent of certain discretionary highway and transit program funds to fight congestion, giving priority to projects that combine a mix of pricing, transit, and technology solutions.
"Instead of having our transportation dollars whittled away with hundreds of congressional earmarks, we need to direct funding to projects that have the most impact on highway performance and congestion relief," Secretary Peters said.
To see highlights of the proposed Department of Transportation budget, visit www.dot.gov/bib2009.