Parris N. Glendening responded to Could Focusing on Repairs Please Everyone?

By Parris N. Glendening
President, Smart Growth Leadership Institute, Former Governor of Maryland, and NSI Senior Advisor
Many of the comments in this discussion have touched on a key point of the reauthorization bill: if Congress pursues more fiscally responsible highway repair and maintenance strategies, our entire transportation system will benefit. Though much of our national highway system is crumbling, it is largely complete. Our public transportation network and facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists, on the other hand, are woefully inadequate.
As Smart Growth America’s recent report showed, between 2004 and 2008 states spent more than 50 percent of their collective highway capital budget on expansion projects that accounted for only one percent of highways, while repair and upkeep of the existing 99 percent of the system received less than half of all funds. These decisions are creating huge liabilities for states, and with budgets stretched so thin, we cannot afford to continue to spend on new capacity at the cost of existing roads. Challenging economic times presents an opportunity to re-evaluate our spending strategies and make some fundamental changes to our priorities.
If Congress adopted stronger mechanisms for prioritizing repair and maintenance projects, taxpayers across the country will benefit from lower future liabilities. By emphasizing a fiscally responsible approach to our highway network, we can also refocus our commitment to serving all Americans no matter what mode of transportation they use.

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https://transportation.nationaljournal.com/2011/06/could-focusing-on-repairs-plea.php#2008948oldId.20110612125653878