Gearing up on transportation

OPINION:

Last week I took part in a conference on rebuilding America’s infrastructure at the Woodrow Wilson Center in the heart of the nation’s capital. It is the 200th anniversary of the Gallatin Plan, initiated by President Thomas Jefferson, which planned canals and post roads. And it is the 100th anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt’s conference with all of the nation’s governors to discuss infrastructure. That began the National Governors Conference.

This conference was initiated by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Oregon Democrat. He is known as the leading congressional proponent of light rail and streetcars. In addition to Mr. Blumenauer, Reps. Tom Petri, Wisconsin Republican, and Chris Shays, Connecticut Republican, spoke at the conference.

Sen. James Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican, one of the most principled conservatives in the Congress, is fond of saying the only two activities sanctioned by the Constitution are to provide for the common defense and to build infrastructure.

I served on the panel which dealt with transportation. All the panelists agreed we need a vision to explain to Americans what needs to be done. The major disagreement among panelists was on whether the existing mechanisms we have to fund transportation projects are adequate or if there is a need to start over.

The Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, upon which I have served for the last two years, recommended we not merely reauthorize the highway and transit program that expires next year but institute a fundamentally different way to authorize projects. It is an utter disgrace that it takes more than a decade and a half between the time a project is proposed and it is funded. Cost escalation alone eats up most if not all of the federal contribution.

Finally, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is permitting Salt Lake City to build two different light-rail branches simultaneously rather than fully completing one project before the next line is built. Now Houston would like the same consideration for several light-rail lines approved by the voters.

Some panelists thought the existing system only needed to be perfected; some of us contended we just need to start over. One question arose — do we need another commission to deal with infrastructure matters beyond transportation? I have no objection to that idea but I really would like to see a transportation czar who could carry out our recommendations.

I am grateful to Mr. Blumenauer for taking this initiative. We had an excellent audience that asked extraordinarily good questions. One of the participants was John Norquist, president of the Congress for the New Urbanism. He likes to tell people his organization and the Free Congress Foundation (both of which have Congress in the title) are the only two organizations that favor both mass transit and school choice. He and Mr. Blumenauer were guests on the “Right Hour,” my radio show on the Right Talk Radio Network.

Both were optimistic that Congress would face up to the need to deal with infrastructure. One issue that has proved very controversial is the sale or lease of highways and bridges to private investors. Our commission came out four-square against sale or lease of our infrastructure to foreign governments and foreign investors.

Some politicians who have supported these public private partnerships are now in trouble. Americans simply do not want to see private interests, especially foreign interests, controlling our infrastructure.

Granted money is tight and it is tempting to raise easy money that way but people who have paid for these roads with tax dollars do not like the idea of leasing or selling them.

Next year will be critical for roads and rails. This conference offers a preview. Exciting times are ahead of us.

Paul M. Weyrich is chairman and chief executive officer of the Free Congress Foundation.