2007 Center for Transportation Policy Kick-Off Lunch with Norman Mineta
2007-13
As the issue of transportation becomes an increasingly volatile subject in Washington State, the Washington Policy Center’s kick-off luncheon for its Center for Transportation Policy provided an opportunity to discuss the current condition of America’s roadways and the future of transportation policy. Over 160 Washington Policy board members, legislative officials and staff, and representatives of the transportation industry met on June 25th at The Renaissance Hotel in Seattle to welcome keynote speaker, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta. As the longest serving Secretary of Transportation, Secretary Mineta employed his broad experience to discuss how our state can relieve traffic congestion.
Preceding the luncheon, a roundtable discussion was held hosting board members and transportation leaders. Two presentations focusing on recent developments in transportation policy were delivered by John Niles, Senior Fellow of the Discovery Institute, and Richard Ford, Chairman of the Washington Transportation Commission.
Niles began his presentation by describing two common philosophies in transportation policy. The first methodology says that congestion is a problem, inevitable yet containable with the implementation of certain measures. This proposal assumes that people will live where they desire due to freedom of mobility.
The second proposal holds that states and localities cannot build their way out of congestion, and thus new roads provide only a new right of way for congestion. Niles asserted that followers of this methodology generally focus on alternative solutions to traffic congestion. After introducing these two distinct views, Niles asked if the two methodologies presented were the only options for citizens to adopt, or if there existed a third model that could offer a solution. He then opened the floor to the board members, asking them to state their own proposals of the best third model.
Following a question and answer session, Richard Ford, Chairman of the Washington Transportation Commission, presented a survey that revealed the public’s opinion on transportation development and roadway funding. The poll found the public approves of highway tolls to fund specific projects promoting highway safety, and those that provide immediate improvements to traffic congestion. Overall, the survey revealed that nearly half of respondents (49%) approved of tolling for specific projects, while only 24% would prefer implementation of a gas tax to fund generalized roadway improvement.
Ford concluded that the public is looking for a new way to solve old problems in transportation. Though public skepticism existed towards the governments’ ability to deliver solutions to transportation problems, Ford said the poll showed that the public would support funding transportation improvement if they were given assurance that money was used efficiently and fairly. From his findings, Ford asserted that congestion is a problem the public is willing to fix for improvements in highway safety and decreased congestion on roadways. Ford then opened the floor to questions and comments from the roundtable attendants.
Following the roundtable session, Secretary Mineta described how congestion has become an economic burden, rather than an occasional inconvenience. He discussed how congestion affects not only the timeliness of citizens’ commutes, but also the ability of manufacturers to deliver supplies to America’s store shelves. Stating that a nation’s economy works only as well as its transportation network, Mineta emphasized how congestion threatens America’s economic vitality. He urged this threat not be overlooked, and that he hoped solutions would be considered to resolve the problem posed by congestion. In order to develop successful solutions, Mineta said that citizens and legislators must determine whether to remain on the current course in transportation policy or broaden their understandings to better address the problems presented by congestion.
As an efficient solution to congestion, Mineta discussed the effectiveness of public private partnerships (PPPs). Due to population growth and the development of alternative fuel vehicles, Mineta said transportation funding has become insufficient at addressing the problems posed by congestion. To address these insufficiencies, he encouraged the use of PPPs. By leasing certain roadways to private corporations, Mineta said revenue could be accrued more successfully than by solely public means. Citing the successful agreements made by governors in Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Secretary Mineta asserted that city and state officials could establish PPPs that are both non-controversial and effective. These collaborations, in addition to developments in technology, pricing and more local involvement, would be a resolute step towards alleviating America’s congested roadways.
To accommodate an increasingly mobile population, Mineta urged attendants to consider the necessity of transportation funding. With current predictions estimating that nearly 70% of the nation’s population will live within 100 miles of coastline and border area in 2025, Mineta called for solutions to congestion to meet the needs of the coming generations. Using the efficiencies discussed, Mineta suggested that cities and states could respond successfully to these predicted conditions and ably prepare to meet the future needs of our communities.
Mineta concluded his address with a call to residents in Washington to follow the examples of states that are moving forward in local collaboration and innovation of regional transportation policy. As the citizens of these localities best understand the burdens of congestion, they are in a better position to diagnose problems and develop solutions. Secretary Mineta closed by asking the audience to remain engaged in transportation policy because in doing so they can solve the vexing problems behind congestion.
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