Infra Insight Blog : written by Nossaman LLP Infrastructure attorneys, covers infrastructure project delivery, including Public-Private Partnerships, Operations & Management Agreements, policy, and news.

For the 89^th year, January brings new ideas in transportation. The 89^th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting will be held in Washington D.C., January 10-14. 

Reflecting the theme of “Investing in Our Transportation Future – BOLD Ideas to Meet BIG Challenges,” Nossaman Partner Geoffrey Yarema will give a presentation titled "P3 Successes and Lessons Learned" on January 10. Nossaman Partner Nancy Smith will give a presentation titled "Public-Private Partnership Update" on January 11. Nossaman Partner Edward Kussy will be the presiding officer for the "Ethics for Transportation Professionals" and "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: What Have We Learned?" panel discussions on January 12.

We look forward to discussing and learning with others.

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TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) division has weighed in on road user fees based on vehicle miles traveled or VMT. Their latest report “Implementable Strategies for Shifting to Direct Usage-Based Charges for Transportation Funding” responds to VMT’s critics who say the transportation funding method would be too challenging and require a lengthy implementation period. The report outlines strategies for shifting to direct user-based charges for transportation funding, focusing on incremental VMT mechanisms which can be fully implemented in the next five years. The discussion is generally limited to the technical aspects of various VMT fee mechanisms, avoiding the thornier issues of public and political acceptance.

The issuance of the NCHRP report adds to a growing body of support for a revamping of the traditional means of funding highway construction and maintenance. In February of this year, the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission issued its final report recommending the use of VMT. Interim and long-term VMT strategies will no doubt have a central role in the upcoming debate over the surface transportation reauthorization measure.

 

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