The National Academy of Public Administration

Intergovernmental Forum: Transportation Finance

Background Reading and Research

The items provided here will be updated periodically, especially to replace
items in the news section. The news section provides a few links to recent
news stories and articles, the most recent ones first. The second list contains
links to research papers, reports andother important presentations and papers
that should be of interest to this Intergovernmental
Forum.

Recent News Stories and Articles

“PA Governor Rendell Says Transportation Funding Analysis Determines Highest Value Likely From Long-term Lease”. PRnewswire. May 21, 2007. An analysis of options to address Pennsylvania’s transportation funding needs has determined that a lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike is likely to generate the highest level of funding to repair roads and bridges and avert drastic public transit cuts.
“Alternative Transportation Fuel Growth Projections”. Newswiretoday. London, U.K. May 21, 2007. A new report by Report Buyer says that by the end of 2011, the market for alternative fuels could reach more than 8.5 billion GGE (Gasoline Gallon Equivalent), a compound annual growth rate of 12.9 percent.
“Transportation Infrastructure and the Future of Logistics.” SCDigest. Dan Gilmore, Editor-in-Chief. May 17, 2007. Shipper concerns about U.S. ports infrastructure have largely dissipated as delays and congestion abate.
“Suit Claims Freight Rails Fixed Prices”. Associated Press News. May 14, 2007 Class action request filed against the five railroads that control most of the freight rail carriage, charging inappropriate anti-trust price fixing.
“President Bush Discusses Café and Alternative Fuel Standards.”White House. May 14, 2007. President Bush’s press conference announced the signing of an Executive Order bringing several agencies together to respond to the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that EPA must regulate GHG in cars and transportation and calls for Congress to pass his 20-10 policy as legislation.
“Colorado Department of Transportation Report.” ACPubs.com. Hol Wagner. May 14, 2007.
“Mayors Applaud New Senate Energy Bill Backing Local Energy Efficiency Initiatives”. U.S. Conference of Mayors. PR-Inside.com. April 18, 2007. More than 460 mayors signed the Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
“Transportation leaders to address nation’s future mobility”. Thetrucker.com. April 2007. Eight national organizations are convening to create a new national “vision” for transportation to maintain the nation’s place in the world economy and way of life.
Prepared Testimony before the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, U.S. House of Representatives. Richard Haas, President,Council on Foreign Relations. The geopolitical implications of rising oil dependence. April 2007.
“New Report Provides In-Depth Analysis of Recent Commuting Trends: Aging BabyBoomers, Immigrants Will Have Significant Impact on Commuting”. The National Academies, October 2006. New commuting patterns being driven by changing demographics.
“State House Passes Transportation Authority bill”. Bradenton Herald. Duane Marsteller. May 3, 2007. Florida’s legislature unanimously establishes a regional transportation authority for Tampa Bay counties. The authority would have the power to plan, develop, finance and build roads. Public-private financing would also be permitted.
“Reduced Demand, Added Capacity Make Life a Bit Easier for Shippers”. Supply Chain Digest. April 25, 2007. Carrier pricing has moderated now as new trucks are added and as demand from the slack housing industry has freed up rail-carrier space to compete.
“Fitch Rates Maryland DOT’s $30MM County Transportation Bonds ‘AA’. Businesswire. April 25, 2007. An example of intergovernmental cooperation where federal tax exemption for State bonds, state support and local government fiscal commitments, result in low-cost financing for important transportation projects.
Recent Research Papers and Publications State Policy Options for Funding Transportation. National Governors Association Issue Brief. Darren Springer. February, 2007. An analysis of existing and innovative finance mechanisms which states have to fund transportation projects.
Overview of Highway Trust Fund Estimates. U.S. Government Accountability Office. April 2006. A report on how the Highway Trust Fund estimates are derived the financial status of the Fund.
Prepared Testimony before the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, U.S. House of Representatives. Richard Haas, President, Council on Foreign Relations. The geopolitical implications of rising oil dependence. April 2007.
“Highway Trust Fund Cash Balances.” National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission (NSTPRSC). Laura Ziff, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs. March 2007. PowerPoint slide presentation at the March 2007 public session of the NSTPRSC hearing.
“Future Needs of the U.S. Surface Transportation System”. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. February 2007. A comprehensive assessment of transportation needs in the U.S. today and in the future, and the demographic and economic changes that will shape the future.
“Future Financing Options to Meet Highway and Transit Needs”. National CooperativeHighway Research Program. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. December 2006. An assessment of options for raising revenue, and innovative strategies that federal, state and local government agency can use to reduce the gap between available funds and transportation needs.
“The Future of the Highway Trust Fund.” Presentation for the National Conference of State Legislatures. Jack Basso, Director, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials.August 2006. The Future of Transportation Financing in the U.S.
“Future Highway and Public Transportation Finance; Phase 1: Current Outlook and Short-TermSolutions.” National Chamber Foundation. Cambridge Systematics Inc. 2005. Identification of funding mechanisms to meet national highway and transit investment needs.
“2001 National Household Travel Survey.” U.S. Department of Transportation.Federal Highway Administration. Patricia S. Hu, Oak Ridge National Lab and Timothy R. Reuscher, MacroSys Research and Technology. December 2004.
National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission. This resource website has a glossary and provides information on commission activities, public hearing presentations and other useful resource material.
Oregon: Road User Fee Task Force This website provides information about Oregon’s successful demonstration of a VMT-based road-user fee. The Task Force is chaired by Intergovernmental Forum principal, Senator Bruce Starr.
“Valuing Transit Service Quality Improvements”. Victoria Transport Policy Institute. Todd Liman. April 2007. The value of time to commuters and the relationship to transit planning, operations and evaluation.
“Life in the Fast Lane: Transportation Finance and the Local Option Sales Tax”. State and Local Government Review. Andrew D. Green. Vol. 38, No. 2 (2006). Provides an example of how state governments decentralizes power and authority downwards by allowing localities to raise revue for local transportation

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