Congressman Carnahan introduces bill
to promote energy efficiency and security

(WASHINGTON) - Today Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO-3) joined colleagues Congressmen Jay Inslee (WA-1) and Rush Holt (NJ-12) in introducing the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009 designed to move the nation's transportation policy into the 21^st century.

As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee works on reauthorizing the surface transportation bill this year, this legislation defines a set of objectives and performance targets that will move national surface transportation system forward in a way that addresses the U.S.'s economic, energy, and environmental challenges.

"As Congress and the T&I Committee work to reauthorize the federal surface transportation policies it's important to develop a long-term transportation strategy when it comes to our economy and environment," said Congressman Carnahan. "We must rebuild our ageing infrastructure in a smart way that addresses our economic and energy challenges."

Legislation introduced today establishes six National Transportation Objectives to promote energy efficiency and energy security, ensure environmental protection, improve economic competitiveness, increase safety and public health outcomes, improve system conditions and connectivity, and provide equal access to urban and rural communities. 

The legislation would link these objectives to 10 National Transportation Performance Targets:

• Reduce vehicles miles traveled by 16 percent in 20 years
• Triple walking, biking, and public transit use in 20 years
• Reduce transportation-generated carbon dioxide level by 40 percent in 20 years
• Reduce delays by 10 percent in 20 years
• Increase rail and intermodal freight transportation by 20 percent in 20 years
• Achieve zero percent population exposure to at-risk levels of air pollution
• Improve public safety and lower congestion cost by reducing traffic crashes by 50 percent
• Increase share of major highways, regional transit fleets and facilities, and bicycling/pedestrian infrastructure in good state of repair condition by 20 percent
• Reduce average household combined housing plus transportation costs by 25 percent, using 2000 as a base year
• Increase by 50 percent the number of essential destinations accessible within 30 minutes by public transportation or 15 minutes by walking, for low-income, senior, and disabled populations

According to the Texas Transportation Institute's 2007 Urban Mobility Report in 2005 people in the St. Louis metropolitan region spent thirty-eight million hours stuck in traffic and twenty-three million dollars were spent on wasted fuel.  That is the equivalent to 760,000,000 pounds of CO2 being released.

"By investing in multiple transportation systems -- like public transit, high-speed rail and walkable communities -- more cars will be taken off of already crowded roadways and communities will be better connected," said Carnahan. "The more we can do to reduce our dependence on foreign oil the safer we are as a country."

The bill has been endorsed by Transportation for America, a coalition of more than 300 national and state organizations, local governments, businesses and transit agencies that seek to create a national transportation system reflecting national priorities.  St. Louis-based Citizens for Modern Transit has also endorsed the bill.

"Congressman Carnahan is a genuine leader for calling on the nation to talk about transportation objectives for the 21^st Century," said Thomas R. Shrout, Jr., executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit in St. Louis. "He understands we must be thinking about energy, the environment, the economy and the quality of life when we consider the next transportation bill. A new vision for transportation is central to the country addressing our economic future."

Shrout also serves as chair of the National Association of Public Transportation Advocates, a national coalition of local and state organizations seeking national transportation reform.

Carnahan serves on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to as well as the Science and Technology Committee.

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