By Kevin McCarty
February 11, 2008

In his remarks on transportation infrastructure, largely anticipating the looming debate on renewal of the federal surface transportation law, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper made the case for active engagement and involvement by the nation’s mayors, challenging them “to be organized and to be ready.”

“Mayors know different transportation decisions and choices must be made. And, we know that we can’t sustain current transportation practices,” he said.

He cited the critical need to address the nation’s oil dependency and the growing challenges of climate protection, urging mayors to become more vocal on these realities. “We need to be willing to talk about our nation’s energy use and our oil dependency, and how it threatens our economic and national security. And, we must be willing to talk about the need for a real and enduring commitment to climate protection, a commitment that begins with the new federal transportation law.”

“We know how transportation affects our climate protection efforts, and achievement of the goals we have set. We have run out of time and, soon, we won’t have enough money to make the investments that will be needed,” he said.

Hickenlooper’s remarks were delivered just days after a National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released its findings to the President and Congress, recommending a significant change in direction for the next renewal of the federal surface transportation law, currently known as SAFETEA-LU. “The results of this 20-month study just told us that financing America’s surface transportation needs will be expensive,” and “…it assesses the awesome scale of the challenges before us,” he stressed.

“This debate will be particularly critical test for mayors. It will challenge our priorities and our shared vision for the future,” he said. Reminding mayors this will debate will be about “the legacy we will leave our children and grandchildren,” he also didn’t discount the challenge before the mayors and others in securing the right outcome. “It (SAFETEA-LU renewal) will be a struggle. On one side, there will be so many entrenched interests that simply want to continue the status quo. And others, like mayors, that know different transportation decisions and choices must be made,” he said.

In assessing current political and economic conditions leading up to next year’s debate, Hickenlooper offered a tough critique of the states’ performance, the level of government vested by Congress to lead on surface transportation challenges before the nation. Praising mayors and other local leaders for their leadership and willingness to confront tough resource challenges, he cited key trends showing why the same doesn’t hold true for state efforts.

“Federal policy designated Governors and state transportation departments as the led actors on surface transportation infrastructure, and, quite frankly, states have let us [cities] down.”

“Soon we will be asked, probably by key Governors and others, to join the chorus of voices urging Congress to increase federal funding commitments to transportation. The likely outcome of this campaign is we will be using our political capital to raise federal infrastructure commitments that, in the end, with benefit state DOTs and their priorities, with little or no connection to the priorities we have identified,” Hickenlooper said.

“We can’t afford to let Congress simply backfill states that want to keep operating a traditional transportation investment program. There is too much at stake, and there is too much urgency about the need to change our direction,” he said.

He reminded his colleagues that SAFETEA-LU expires September 30, 2009 and that the Congressional debate next year will be strongly influenced by the outcome of the presidential election. Hickenlooper said that, “We must use the time to get clear about our policy positions, and chart a course for the direction on where the country needs to go. As the community of mayors, we must get prepared and mobilized for the debate ahead and begin reaching out to other local officials and other allies in this effort.”

In concluding his remarks, Hickenlooper, who serves as Chair on the Conference of Mayors Transportation and Communications Committee, indicated that new policy proposals to guide the organization’s legislative positions on SAFETEA-LU renewal will be considered during the 76th Annual Meeting in Miami.