By Ron Thaniel
October 7, 2002

Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth L. Barr, U.S. Conference of Mayors Transportation and Communications Chair, told Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta that the future of transportation in the 21st century is one in which our metropolitan areas continue to serve as the nucleus of our nation's transportation infrastructure or railways, waterways, airways, highways, and roadways.

Mayor Barr, in the September 25 meeting, outlined the Conference's reauthorization goals. These included increased suballocation of surface transportation funds to metropolitan areas for repair and maintenance of existing urban highways while giving equal weight to expanding public transit systems, congestion mitigation, safety programs, intermodal projects, land use, and streamlined federal and state transportation regulations. Mayor Barr joined state and local government officials from the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, and National Conference of State Legislatures. All highlighted the need for increased funding for highways and transit, protection of the funding firewalls and spending guarantees established in TEA-21.

Previous legislation fashioned an relationship between gasoline taxes paid by consumers and federal transportation funding. Furthermore, the original landmark law established protective firewalls so that the taxes deposited in the Highway Trust Fund could not be diverted for any other spending purposes.

Secretary Mineta agreed with Mayor Barr on this issue and said, "We must preserve all of the strong elements of ISTEA and TEA-21."

Secretary Mineta also stated that he did not see any way to continue past levels of funding increases given lower levels of fuel consumption and slower economic growth. He also did not seem to believe there is a political will for a gas tax increase.

National League of Cities First Vice President New Haven Mayor John DeStefano told Secretary Mineta, "It is our challenge to generate support for an increase to ensure adequate funding."

Mayor Barr told Secretary Mineta "We will be behind you and in front of you to carry the message. Mr. Secretary, don-t be timid on the funding."