The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

Center reports to Obama

University

ormer U.S. Secretaries of Transportation Norman Mineta and Samuel Skinner briefed President Obama at the White House Oct. 4 about a transportation report produced in conjunction with the Miller Center of Public Affairs.

The report, which includes 10 recommendations to improve the nation's transportation infrastructure, was the result of the David R. Goode National Transportation Policy Conference, which saw more than 80 attendees and was co-chaired by Mineta and Skinner.

Miller Center Director Gerald Baliles, who conceived the idea for the conference, expressed the growing need for reform in transportation in the center's official report, stating, "[We] are a nation in need of fresh strategic thinking about our federal transportation programs."

He also expressed his satisfaction with Mineta and Skinner's briefing of Obama, cabinet members, governors and mayors about the Miller Center's transportation report.

"It was very well received," Baliles said in an e-mail. "The president agrees that our nation's infrastructure is inefficient and outdated and that we must do something about it. We look forward to responding to questions from the White House and Congress as they consider the recommendations of the Miller Center's report."

Both the three-day conference and report aimed to direct national attention toward possible flaws in the nation's transportation policies by encouraging discussions and formulating "a comprehensive set of proposals for the reauthorization of America's transportation programs," Balile said in an official letter included in the report.

Flaws addressed in the report include bottleneck crowding on interstates, inadequate options offered in public transportation and an overall lack in funds, resulting in the isolation of rural areas from economic opportunities.

During a press conference after the briefing, Obama expressed his concerns about the state of the nation's transportation infrastructure.

"Sam and Norm have been leading a bipartisan group of more than 80 experts who just last week released a call to action demanding a fundamental overhaul of how America approaches funding and building our infrastructure and today my treasury department and my council of economic advisors have released our own study," Obama said. "These reports confirm what any American can already tell you: our infrastructure is woefully inefficient and it is outdated."

The report covers different aspects of urban transport that need to be updated or changed to create a more efficient transportation system.

"Anyone who is concerned about the economy, is looking for a job, drives a car, or has ever been stuck in traffic should be interested in this report," Kristy Schantz, assistant director for communications and marketing for the Miller Center's Washington D.C. office, said in an e-mail. "U.S. roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure are in a state of disrepair, and it's hurting our economy."

As a result, Schantz said the overburdened transportation system means that since "goods are not moved from place to place efficiently ... money and billions of gallons of gas and billions of hours of time are wasted every year as Americans sit in traffic."

One proposal to institute a "per mile" tax on drivers, which generated some criticism from citizen groups and media outlets, will not be instituted, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said.

"I can weigh in on it, and this will not be the policy of the Obama administration," he said.

Of the 10 recommendations outlined in the report, some provide solutions that could potentially be implemented or considered immediately, however. Included was a desire to "stop the bleeding," in which "Congress must address the immediate crisis in transportation funding" before anything else can be solved." Additionally, the "beyond the gas tax" and "jobs for the future, not just for today" guidelines aim at helping the nation become more efficient and a stronger economic competitor.

Comments

Latest Podcast

The University’s Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Undergraduate Admission, Greg Roberts, provides listeners with an insight into how the University conducts admissions and the legal subtleties regarding the possible end to the consideration of legacy status.



https://open.spotify.com/episode/02ZWcF1RlqBj7CXLfA49xt