{
  "id": "R43940",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R43940",
  "active": true,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 439103,
      "date": "2015-03-16",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T19:21:44.429219",
      "title": "Freight Infrastructure Issues in Surface Transportation Reauthorization",
      "summary": "Goods movement has increased substantially over the past few decades as the economy and global trade have expanded. Freight transportation demand in tandem with passenger-side demand has caused congestion in many parts of the transportation system, resulting in slower and less reliable freight movement. Also, the condition and performance of freight infrastructure play considerable roles in the efficiency of the freight system and, therefore, are likely to be of significant congressional concern in the reauthorization of the surface transportation program that is currently authorized through May 31, 2015. \nThere is no specific federal freight transportation program. Instead, the federal government supports freight infrastructure through several programs that promote both passenger and freight mobility. The most important of these are four of the five \u201ccore\u201d programs of the federal-aid highway program, which together account for roughly 90% of highway spending. One of those five programs, the Surface Transportation Program, also provides limited support for freight rail projects. Federal assistance to ports and inland navigation, waterborne shipping, and air freight are beyond the scope of this report. \nThere is significant disagreement about the best way to accomplish improvements in freight system infrastructure. Among the most important points of contention are:\nThe magnitude of the investments required and related policies to manage demand for existing transportation infrastructure as an alternative to increasing capacity. \nHow to cover the cost. Most federal freight investments are currently funded through the highway trust fund, whose main source of revenue is taxes on motor fuels. These taxes no longer raise sufficient revenue to fund existing federal surface transportation programs, and proposals to increase federal spending on freight infrastructure are often linked to other fees or taxes that have not gained support in Congress.\nHow to set priorities. Most federal highway funding is distributed by formula to state departments of transportation, which determine spending priorities in cooperation with metropolitan planning organizations. This process forces freight projects to compete with passenger-oriented projects, which may have greater support\u2014especially when a proposed freight project primarily benefits so-called through trucks (rather than trucks making local pick-ups and deliveries). Changes in the law to establish priority for freight infrastructure would run contrary to the trend in recent reauthorization acts to give states greater discretion over their spending of federal highway funds. \nThe role of the federal government in the planning process. The 2012 surface transportation reauthorization, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21; P.L. 112-141), established a performance measurement system for state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations. However, these provisions have yet to be fully implemented. Eventually, they are intended to lead to federal evaluation of state and local decision-making, which is likely to prove controversial.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": true,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "encoding": "utf-8",
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R43940",
          "sha1": "37240050cf1aa4d749f0f68202a9187f04489314",
          "filename": "files/20150316_R43940_37240050cf1aa4d749f0f68202a9187f04489314.html",
          "images": null
        },
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "encoding": null,
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R43940",
          "sha1": "f37d1a1ae02c4f90237933911b895909dbdb0c49",
          "filename": "files/20150316_R43940_f37d1a1ae02c4f90237933911b895909dbdb0c49.pdf",
          "images": null
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 3760,
          "name": "Surface Transportation"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Transportation Policy"
  ]
}