Congressman Elijah E. Cummings Proudly Representing Maryland's 7th District

Highway and Transit Needs:
The State and Local Perspective

May 7, 2003

Statement of Representative Elijah E. Cummings, D-Maryland
before the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit & Pipeline Hearing

U.S. House of Representatives
108^th Congress

Washington, D.C

Mr. Chairman:

When Congress passed ISTEA and later TEA 21, the intent was to craft sound transportation policy that would provide for adequate funding and investment in our nation's transportation systems. Accordingly, one of the primary responsibilities of this Committee is to ensure that our transit programs contribute to a safe, reliable, and seamless multimodal transportation system that meets the needs of our nation.

In our efforts to meet the needs of the American public this committee is ever mindful that our national transportation system directly impacts our quality of life.  Ninety-percent of all passenger trips, whether they are commuter, leisure, or daily local errands, rely on public roads. Without adequate and safe roads, the quality of life is significantly reduced on every level.

In my home state of Maryland, one third of the existing highway network was constructed over 70 years ago; 40% was constructed between 1950 and 1975.  We currently spend approximately $180 million annually to maintain and preserve our highway pavement and bridges. Increasing levels of congestion and an aging infrastructure will require an estimated $430 million above current funding levels over the next six years and approximately $20 billion by 2020 to maintain and improve our highway infrastructure.

This scenario of aging infrastructure is not particular to Maryland, but is a common occurrence nationwide. Our national transportation system is critical to both our homeland security and our national defense. As such, the safety and efficiency of roads and mass transit networks must remain a  high priority. In light of this increased emphasis on national safety and security requirements, we must guarantee a greater federal investment in transportation.

Increases in population and highway traffic, aging infrastructure and insufficient funding are problems that most communities share. Financial resources are at an all time low. As a nation we must invest in our roads, rails, walkways and bikeways that serve as links between neighborhoods and cities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently released a report stating that the federal government would have to invest an average of at least $20 billion a year more in transportation programs to ensure that highway safety, traffic congestion and the infrastructure of roads and mass transit systems do not get worse.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding today's hearing. I look forward to hearing from distinguished witnesses. As legislators, I'm sure that we share some of the same views regarding highway and transit needs.