Waterfront Coalition, The

I’m tempted to quote Charles Dickens, for these are both the worst and best of times. Really? How could it be the best of times with consumer confidence nonexistent, unemployment heading toward 8 percent-plus and shipping volumes way down? Clearly, 2009 is shaping up as one of the worst years in recent memory. True, but 2009 also may be our best time for urging the new Obama administration to develop a national freight policy. This was not possible during the Bush years. President Bush steadfastly held the view that transportation policy belonged to the states. That kind of decentralized thinking is directly responsible for funding of projects such as the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere.” President-elect Obama’s inauguration is still a couple weeks away, but I have reason to be optimistic, based on his campaign stump speeches and transportation policy statements, that the new administration will be more sympathetic toward a national freight policy. I also believe the new Congress will be able to work in tandem with the new president to make sure the Highway Trust Fund doesn’t go bust. Will that mean a torrent of money for transportation projects from the federal government? No, but it does mean that we have a better chance than ever to ensure that a larger proportion of federal transportation dollars get spent on the right freight projects. The old adage that “freight doesn’t vote” is beginning to fade away with the growing realization that the U.S. must invest in basic infrastructure if it wishes to remain competitive. 2009 is likely to present the best opportunity in quite some time to change the nature of the federal highway and transportation debate. Shippers will be intensely engaged in this exercise, even in the midst of an economic slowdown.