NTTA Goes to Washington

In February, NTTA representatives traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with the north Texas Congressional delegation and key federal transportation partners to discuss several north Texas projects. 

The NTTA team met with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to discuss the development and advancement of critical north Texas projects, including Trinity Parkway in Dallas County and Southwest Parkway in Tarrant County.  In addition, the NTTA hosted a breakfast for members of the north Texas Congressional delegation, which included remarks from Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congresswoman Kay Granger, Congressman Sam Johnson and Congressman Pete Sessions.  The NTTA thanks the staffs of the entire north Texas Congressional delegation for their assistance in planning the NTTA’s work week in Washington.

As evidenced during the State Highway 121 process in 2007, the NTTA’s working relationships with partner agencies at the federal level has grown significantly, along with the need to regularly communicate and discuss opportunities to expedite projects.  The NTTA’s visit with its federal agency partners in February was a productive one. The NTTA is looking forward to continuing to work with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, FHWA and the elected leadership of north Texas in the months ahead as we identify ways to improve the project development process.

In other federal news…The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released its report in January after two years of study. Congress created the Commission in 2005 under Section 1909 of SAFETEA-LU.  The report recommended a federal fuel tax increase of 25 to 40 cents per gallon over the next five years, after which the tax should be indexed to inflation; in addition to a prohibition against non-compete provisions; a cap on toll increases limited to inflation adjustments; revenue sharing provisions; and limits on the length of concession agreements.  The report also recommended a series of reforms to speed up the NEPA project development and approval process.

The Commission held one of their meetings in Dallas in September 2006, at which NTTA officials testified. It’s no surprise that tolling is becoming increasingly targeted at the federal level as a consistent means of transportation funding, coupled with or independent of some form of a gas tax increase.  The NTTA will continue working with local, state and federal transportation agencies, not only as a resource, but as an active partner in identifying innovative solutions that will help bring additional dollars to improving mobility.

For more information on the NTTA’s Government Affairs Program, please contact Carrie Rogers, Assistant Director of Government Affairs, at (214) 224-2269 or crogers@ntta.org.