Infrastructure Summer: A Conversation with Key Transportation Stakeholders
By Rachel Roberts, WTS-DC
On July 15, with a significant infrastructure legislative package on the minds of everyone in Washington, WTS-DC held a conversation with key transportation stakeholders to discuss prospects for action and how a package could impact the transportation stakeholder community.
Emily Feenstra, Managing Director of Government Relations and Infrastructure Initiatives at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), moderated the panel and started the day off with a discussion of ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which rated America’s 2021 infrastructure at a cumulative grade of C-.
She introduced the panel, consisting of four cross-modal stakeholders: Susan Howard, Program Director for Transportation Finance at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); Ward McCarragher, Vice President of Government Affairs at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA); Stephanie Gidigbi Jenkins, Director of Policy and Partnerships, Healthy People and Thriving Communities Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council; and Annie Russo, Senior Vice President of Government and Political Affairs, Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA).
After introductions, the panelists tackled modal specific questions on infrastructure investment needs across the transportation spectrum, including touching on ACI-NA’s Infrastructure Needs Study and the State of Good Repair needs across modes. The panel also discussed the new post-COVID normal in transportation and what challenges and changes are coming for the future. Finally, they discussed the Congressional and Presidential infrastructure proposals and how those packages will (and should) be funded.
Panelists highlighted that all modes need funding and that the shortfall has been there for years. While the future of transportation is unpredictable and usages and travel habits have changed since COVID, the funding needs are not going away. Congress and the Administration need to look at long-term funding sources.
WTS-DC and the attendees are grateful to our moderator and panelists for joining us and their support of WTS-DC.