Transportation Bill Should Have Freight Component, Report Says

Congress should include comprehensive funding policies in the upcoming transportation reauthorization bill both to modernize freight transportation and reduce diesel emissions, an environmental group said in a new report.

“A really key place right now that we think has a lot of potential to help reduce freight impact is the federal transportation bill,” Kathryn Phillips said Monday in outlining the report.

“That bill traditionally hasn’t specifically outlined a way to address freight,” said Phillips, director of the Environmental Defense Fund’s California Transportation and Air Initiative.

Phillips said her group believes federal dollars should be distributed in a way that ensures the modernization of freight movement and a reduction in freight’s adverse environmental effect.

“There ought to be a freight-specific section of the bill, and it ought to emphasize modernization simultaneously with environmental impact reduction,” she said.

The federal government estimates freight tonnage will increase 70% from 2002 to 2020, the report said.

By Eric Miller
Staff Reporter