Rep. Lowenthal proposes legislation to create Freight Transportation Infrastructure Trust Fund

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) has introduced legislation he says will provide a dedicated revenue source to invest in rebuilding crumbling freight infrastructure.

 

“Goods movement is one of the most powerful economic engines in our nation. And yet, the infrastructure this engine depends on is crumbling around us. We have the ability to fix it, make it stronger and make it better, while also taking action to address the negative impacts of goods movement on our communities,” Rep. Lowenthal said.

The bill, H.R.1308, Economy in Motion: The National Multimodal and Sustainable Freight Infrastructure Act, aims to raise roughly $8 billion a year dedicated to freight-related infrastructure projects with a focus Rep. Lowenthal says on multimodal projects and projects that help relieve the bottlenecks in the freight transportation system.

The bill would establish the Freight Transportation Infrastructure Trust Fund and be funded through a national one percent waybill fee on the transportation cost of goods.

To invest the funds, the bill creates two freight specific grant programs. 

The first is a formula system, in which each state would receive funds each year based on the amount of existing freight infrastructure within the state. To be eligible, states must develop comprehensive State Freight Plans. They must also have, or form, State Freight Advisory Committees, as encouraged under MAP-21, the federal highway authorization enacted in 2012. 

In addition, the state freight plans will contain environmental goals and strategies developed by state freight advisory committee members; providing a path for freight projects to address and reduce the environmental and community impacts of goods movement. A second funding mechanism is a competitive grant program that would be open to all local, regional and state governments.

“H.R. 1308 is a smart and well-crafted bill that tackles the nation’s freight transportation issues head on,” said Dave Cortese, supervisor and chair of the San Francisco Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission. “Whether it’s exporting goods through the Port of Oakland or moving freight up and down the East Coast, Rep. Lowenthal recognizes that goods movement is a national priority and a key to maintaining America’s global competitiveness. The bill not only creates a dedicated national trust fund for freight transport but also provides a simple and efficient way to sustain the fund for the long haul.”

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