SC&RA Joins Organizations Asking Trump for State DOT Relief

(June 10, 2020) - SC&RA was part of a joint effort between the Highway Users, the Transportation Construction Coalition and the Highway Materials Group to urge President Trump’s support of an immediate $49.95 billion infusion of federal funding for state departments of transportation (DOTs) as his administration and Congress work on the next COVID-19 response legislation. Over 40 organizations signed a letter last week asking the President to preserve the continuity of state transportation programs now helping to forestall further job losses in public and private sectors and allow planned transportation projects to move forward. This action to preserve core state DOT capabilities is critical in order for states to carry out a robust, bipartisan, and long-term surface transportation legislation later this year that can serve as our national platform for economic recovery and growth. Many state governments are facing severe losses in revenues across the board including dedicated user fee revenues on which state DOTs heavily rely. Projections continue to show decreases in state motor fuel tax and toll receipts as nationwide vehicle traffic reduction bottomed out at about 50 percent in early April. Providing state DOTs with an immediate infusion of funding is not unlike action taken in prior COVID-19 response legislation, which compensated aviation, transit, and passenger rail sectors for reductions in ridership and revenue. This urgently needed funding will prevent disruptions to planned transportation projects and allow state DOT employees and transportation construction workers essential to planning and delivering these projects to remain on the job. Read the letter and see the full list of signees here. For more information, contact Joel Dandrea.