By Ron Thaniel
January 31, 2005

At the closing luncheon of the Conference's 73rd Winter Meeting, during the Transportation and Communications Committee discussions, and at the inaugural meeting of the Amtrak Intercity Rail Investment Task Force, the mayors delivered the urgent message that our metro economies need modern transportation infrastructure to secure the nation's future growth.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (NV) told the mayors at the closing luncheon that they were eager to see Congress pass a reauthorization TEA-21 early this year.

Secretary Mineta said, "With record numbers of passengers and freight squeezing every last ounce out of our transportation system, our Nation's economic growth rests more than ever on how reliably, efficiently, and safely we are able to move people and goods."

"So we-ll be charging right out of the starting gate with the Administration's surface transportation reauthorization legislation," said Secretary Mineta.

Furthermore, Secretary Mineta said, "Our proposal, called SAFETEA, for Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act, represents the largest investment of its kind that this country has ever seen."

Declining to be specific on funding levels, Secretary Mineta said, "I hope that this year, legislators will spend less time fretting over funding amounts and focus more on what our bill will accomplish — for it is a true blueprint for investment in our future."

Immediately prior to Secretary Mineta at the closing luncheon Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid spoke and noted that the national infrastructure has been neglected.

"Every lawmaker in Washington can tell [of] similar infrastructure needs throughout the United States," said Senator Reid.

Speaking directly to the long-delayed reauthorization of TEA-21, Senator Reid said, "It would be irresponsible not to work in a bipartisan fashion to pass a highway bill early this year."

In the 108th Congress, Senator Reid, as former ranking Minority Leader on the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, was instrumental in moving the six-year $318 billion surface transportation legislation through the Senate.

Under the direction of Transportation and Communications Standing Committee Vice Chair for Urban Highways San Leandro Mayor Sheila Young, the Committee engaged in a metro focused transportation reauthorization with Sherry Little, Senior Professional Majority Staff Member, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, and Emil H. Frankel, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Delivering an encouraging message to the mayors, Little said she was "confident we are going to get this done." And, Assistant Secretary Frankel told the Committee that the Administration is hoping that the House and Senate bills would be marked up by

Young told the Committee, I know there are groups calling for -just get the bill done at any costs' — we are not one of those groups.

"Our metro economies need modern transportation infrastructure to secure the nation's future economic growth. This can only be done with a policy-focused bill," said Young.

Authorization for the federal transit, highway and safety programs expired September 30, 2003. Federal aid has been continued through short-term extensions. The current extension will expire May 31. The House measure called for a funding level of $275 billion over six years; the Senate bill called for $318 billion over six years. The House'senate conference committee considered a $299 billion funding level but failed to reach an agreement.