2013 SCOWT WASHINGTON MEETING/ WASHINGTON, DC20 JUNE2013
AASHTO Waterborne Freight
Bottom Line ReportChris Smith
Intermodal Policy and Program ManagerAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO Bottom Line Reports
AASHTO commissioned this report because the navigable waterways in 38 of the 50 states provide substantial economic benefits to the entire United States…
State DOTs recognize the significant role the nation’s marine transportation assets play in terms of freight mobility as well as recognize the adverse effects for highways should waterborne freight be diverted…
Waterborne Freight Bottom Line Report
“Business As Usual”
• Leads to unacceptable further declines in condition and performance
• Significant lost opportunities for our nation’s economy
• Basic Maintenance and Preservation
• Delays in Project Delivery• Inadequate Funding• Uncohesive Federal
jurisdiction and national investment strategy
Issues
Alternatives for Action• Direct Corps to develop plan to address
maintenance backlog with 2020 as goal for elimination
• Authorize new WRDA! Project Delivery streamlining Upgraded BCAs Full HMT Utilization with exemptions for domestic
MH services
Alternatives for Action• Establish new Office of Multi-Modal Freight at
USDOT
• Freight Conditions and Performance Economic Impact of Marine Transportation
System Environmental Analysis and Mitigation Long-range national vision
Recommendations• Promote Best Practices and Guidance for
State, Regional and Local planning
Current State of PlayMAP-21 Implementation
State Freight PlanningNational Freight Network,
Strategic Plan, Conditions and Performance Report
Sense of the Congress
Office of Multimodal Freight
Current State of PlayWRDA Authorization•S. 601 passed 85-14
Process Reform HMTF Addressed - 2020
•House bill expected this summer
WRDA in the House"Producing a WRDA bill is going to be a challenge because members of Congress can no longer specifically request projects that they know will have significance to the national economy, but I'm determined to find a way to address those priorities as we move forward”
It will be up to lawmakers and industry to educate citizens about why the federal government should be investing in water infrastructure…one of the least understood modes of transportation.
Policy•Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Water Resources SubcommitteeOngoing policy hearings
Appropriations•Appropriations Committee
Energy and Water Resources SubcommitteeCorps appropriators – DRAFT Bill June 17th HMTF spending - $1 billion in FY 2014
Tax Reform•Ways and Means Committee
HMTF Reform
WRDA in the House
What’s Next• Continue MAP-21 Implementation Advocacy
Many States already integrating marine networks
Comments filed on Interim Guidance for State Freight Plans
National Freight Network Conditions and Performance Report
Continue support of Marine Highway Designations and Services
What’s NextWRDA
• AASHTO Adopted Principles
• Letter filed to Senate leadership
• Bottom Line Report as Education Tool for House
Thank YouChris Smith
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
202-624-5839 or [email protected]
http://water.transportation.org
@SEMINOLE04
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