Infrastructure in the News: March 17, 2010

DC Velocity reported that Chairman of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee James Oberstar proposed a $130 billion federal loan to cover highway funding gaps and according to  DC Streetsblog LA mayor met with lawmakers as part of a campaign for more investment in California infrastructure. Find out more in this Infrastructure in the News.

National News

Washington Post: Senate clears jobs bill for Obama's desk
The Senate cleared an $18 billion jobs bill for President Obama's signature Wednesday, a down payment on what Democrats hope will be a significant election-year investment in boosting the economy...Aside from that program, the measure includes a one-year extension of the law governing federal transportation funding, and would transfer $20 billion into the highway trust fund. The bill also extends a tax break allowing companies to write off equipment purchases, and expands the Build America Bonds program, which helps state and local governments secure financing for infrastructure projects.

DC Velocity: Oberstar proposes federal loan to fill highway funding gaps
Chairman of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee floats plan for $130 billion loan from general treasury to cover highway trust fund budget shortfall.

T4America: Speeding up, cleaning up freight movement in the U.S.
Since Chairman Oberstar introduced the Surface Transportation Authorization Act (STAA) last summer, we’ve increasingly heard that addressing freight congestion is going to be a major component of any national transportation policy.

State News

Transport Politic: A Regional Gas Tax Surcharge to Sponsor Infrastructure Investment
...For megaregions that extend across several states — take the Midwest as the easiest example — developing a regional funding mechanism for a high-speed rail program could be the ideal way to go about actually improving intercity transportation. By forming interstate compacts, states could implement regional authorities with the power to take revenues and distribute them into important projects aimed towards the completion of a regionwide system. States could sign onto a plan that benefits every member and then use this authority to ensure efficient funding and completion of projects, with the goal of integrating the region as a whole.

DC Streetsblog: Villaraigosa Steps Up Case for Federal Investment in “30/10″ Transit Plan
Days after pitching the Senate environment committee for federal help with expediting his ambitious "30/10" package of new transit projects, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was back on the Hill yesterday meeting with lawmakers as part of a broad campaign for more investment in California infrastructure.