Long-Term Funding Plan, Freight Connectivity Top AASHTO’s Agenda

Establishing a long-term funding plan for highway projects, and enhancing access for commercial vehicles along freight corridors are among the top policy priorities this year for the association representing the states’ departments of transportation.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials also indicated it supports state and private sector funding for freight corridors, a multimodal network that serves megaregions and rural areas and the utilization of tax credits designed to incentivize infrastructure investment.

The group also would like policymakers to ensure infrastructure projects are designed to withstand the impact of severe weather events. The policy positions were revealed ahead of AASHTO’s legislative conference, which kicks off Feb. 28 in Washington, D.C. On March 1, event organizers will host a panel featuring the top members of the House and Senate transportation committees.

Bud Wright, AASHTO’s executive director, said the conference will occur at a time when top policymakers are debating funding strategies for infrastructure projects.

"These CEOs are the ones in each state who oversee the nation's major investment and maintenance programs for transportation systems, and they will be called on to directly implement many of the infrastructure projects that Washington may authorize and fund," Wright said, according to an interview with the AASHTO Journal. "It is important that the state officials interact now, early in the process, with the federal policymakers who will develop a new investment plan."