U.S. Chamber Emphasizes Need for Fast, Cost Effective, and Reliable 21st Century Transportation Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Janet Kavinoky, director of transportation infrastructure at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the report of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission (NSTPRSC).

"We concur with the NSTPRSC that the country has a transportation system that is overworked, underfunded, increasingly unsafe, and without a strategic vision," said Kavinoky. "From exploding steam pipes under New York streets to record level flight delays in the skies across the country, it is evident that now is the time to move on a robust, thoughtful, and comprehensive plan to build, maintain, and fund a world-class 21st century infrastructure. As the NSTPRSC report says, 'the time is now,' there can be no more delay."

The Chamber believes in a comprehensive approach to solving the nation's looming transportation infrastructure crisis. Specifically, that a multi-modal and intermodal vision must increase capacity, reduce congestion, and improve the efficient, safe, sustainable movement of goods and people throughout the country and world.

"After the great wars of the last century, the challenge facing America was to rebuild other countries that were in ruins. And we did it," said Kavinoky. "Our challenge today is to rebuild our own country—a country that is hardly in ruins, but which has serious unmet needs."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

Kavinoky's testimony can be viewed at: /issues/testimony/2008/080206_transportation

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