AAPA Urges Continued Progress on Surface Transportation Bill

In a letter to congressional leaders today, AAPA President and Chief Executive Officer Kurt Nagle urged members on both sides of the aisle to make authorization of a multi-year surface transportation bill a key legislative priority for 2010.

Passage of this nationally important bill must be a clear priority for Congress in the coming year, said Mr. Nagle, noting that it took 12 extensions to the previous bill before SAFETEA-LU was finally authorized in 2005. He added that delaying authorization will have increasingly detrimental effects on jobs, the economy, trade, the environment, and quality of life in America.

Among the changes needed in the next surface transportation bill is establishment of a national freight program, including investments in funding for projects and corridors of national and regional significance, intermodal freight connectors, and greater use of our marine highways. AAPA also supports an improved project delivery process, investments in freight rail, and establishment of a multimodal freight office that reports directly to the Office of the Secretary at the United States Department of Transportation to coordinate the oversight of the freight transportation system.

The surface transportation system now in place doesn't address freight needs adequately, said Mr. Nagle. Changes are needed to decrease road congestion due to freight movement that will result in reduced fuel use, pollution and transportation costs. Transportation improvements in and around seaports and throughout the country that enhance freight mobility will positively impact America's immediate and long-term job growth, prosperity, the environment and livability.

For a copy of AAPA's letter to congressional leaders, click here.

About AAPA

Founded in 1912, AAPA today represents 160 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 300 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. As a critical link for access to the global marketplace, each year, Western Hemisphere seaports generate trillions of dollars of economic activity, support the employment of millions of people and, in 2008, imported and exported more than 7.8 billion tons of cargo, valued at $8.6 trillion, including food, clothing, medicine, fuel and building materials, as well as consumer electronics and toys. The volume of cargo shipped by water is expected to dramatically increase by 2020 and the number of passengers traveling through our seaports will continue to grow. To meet these demands, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable.