Sec. 6021 Future Interstate Study Panel n Passenger Travel Presentatin by: Gregry M. Chen, P.E. President & CEO American Highway Users Alliance
Backgrund The Highway Users is a nn-prfit calitin funded in 1932 t represent the interests f mtrists and ther rad users, and the trucking, bus, RV, and mtrcycling industries. Our 300 member assciatins, businesses, and mtring clubs represent millins f drivers and business that rely n safe, reliable, and efficient rads. Safety, mbility, and cnnectivity are ur highest pririties.
Federal Gvt. Value Prpsitin Interstates are THE natinal circulatry system Scarce federal funding must be priritized: Fcus first n Natinal needs Fcus secnd n Reginal needs State and Lcal Gvernments must be incentivized t priritize natinal needs Reinvigrate the ntin that we re all in this tgether
Gal fr the Future Interstate Highway System? Safe, secure, efficient, and reliable mbility fr future generatins
Safety The Visin: Zer Deaths n Future Interstates 5-star cars n 5-star rads Using the U.S. Rad Assessment Prgram t Evaluate the Interstates & Budget Safety Imprvements Set a gal: 100% f Rural Interstates and 95% f Urban Interstates at 5 star standards All safety features must be machine readable.
Redundancy Security Which segments are critical t natinal security? What are the redundant rutes in the event f a failure? Where are the gaps? Resiliency Critical bridges, tunnels, and ther structures
Efficiency & Reliability Eliminatin f America s Wrst Bttlenecks Chicag has #1 bttleneck Safety, Envirnmental, Time benefits Operatinal Imprvements fr the 21 st Century Preservatin f redundant V2X tech ptins DSRC 5G Clear bright lane markings, signage and delineatin Capacity Management thru metering, access cntrl
Fixing America s 30 Wrst Bttlenecks wuld Save $39 billin due t lst time, Save 830 millin gallns f fuel, Reduce ver 17 billin punds f greenhuse gas emissins (CO 2 ), and Prevent 211,000 vehicle crashes ver the next 20 years.
Ecnmic Grwth Interstate Highways Critical fr bth trucking & turism traffic Trucking & turism are amng the tp ecnmic drivers fr new segments I-11 Phenix, AZ t Las Vegas, NV I-73/74/75 frm Michigan t Suth Carlina I-69 frm Indiana t Texas I-49 frm Luisiana t Winnipeg Incentivize the Upgrade NHS rutes t Interstate Standards
Getting it Dne Mney in the Infrastructure Bill Increase User Fees Transitin tward a 3-cent / mile VMT fee with a Virtual Mileage-Based Fee Hw Virtual Fee Paid at the Terminal Rack by current payers (terminal wners) Base ttal cllectins n hw much Americans drive, nt hw many gallns we cnsume Establish a majr cre federal prgram fr future Interstates Incentivize States t fcus n Interstate 4R + New Cnstructin with higher federal match Regulatry Refrm Establish natinal gals applicable t all federal agencies Pilt test speedier reviews by waiving regulatins Enfrce deadlines and timelines Add flexibility t laws that create unreasnable delays and burdens.
Think Twice befre Tlling the Interstates Interstates Were Wisely Cnceived as a Tll-Free System Benefits f a federally funded, tll-free system have been enrmus Spread reasnable csts acrss a large tax base f users Prir t the Interstates Incmplete natinal system, divergent quality frm State-t-State Tlling Existing Interstates Highly Unppular Pilt prgram t tll existing general purpse lanes failed spectacularly. Zer takers! Where Tlling May Garner Public/Vter Supprt New Interstates Cnversin f Underutilized HOV lanes t HOT New Express Tll Lanes If the perceptin is that smene else will pay fr lcal needs. (Nt OK!) Hw the Tlling Cnversatin Has Changed Cncept #1: Tll t pay ff prject-specific bnds fr new rad r bridge Cncept #2: See hw much mney we can get frm captive users (Nt OK!) Cncept #3: Prvide a value-added, cngestin-free alternative at market rate pricing. Public Plicy Gal shuld be t prvide maximize net value t the users, nt t maximize net revenue t the tll rad peratr.
Cnclusin Interstate is ur backbne; ur circulatry system and we need majr surgery! The Interstates are a system that serves all f America n plitical/class divide. American car travel is grwing much faster than predicted in the 2016 C&P reprt. This is gd news fr the ecnmy and persnal prsperity (nt s gd fr safety). Let s Build a Future Interstate that is cnceived frm beginning t end with Zer Deaths & Maximum Efficiency in mind.