[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23305]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



          METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the 
``Metropolitan Washington Regional Transportation Act'' with my 
colleagues Delegate Norton and Representative Wynn.
  Mr. Speaker, the metropolitan Washington D.C. region now faces some 
of the longest and most expensive commutes in the nation. The commuting 
hours have grown in length to include not just morning and evening rush 
hour but a growing segment of the entire workday and weekends as well. 
Moreover, our congestion problems are more than just a transportation 
problem. They are an economic problem, a quality of life issue, and 
now, an environmental issue as well. Automobile exhaust is now 
complicating this region's compliance with requirements of the Clean 
Air Act.
  Unfortunately, as we look to the future, the situation only grows 
worse. For the period of 1990 through 2020, this region can expect both 
a 43 percent increase in population and 43 percent increase in 
employment. This growth and increased dependency on the automobile is 
expected to increase by 79 percent the number of vehicle miles traveled 
in the region by 2020. The Metropolitan Washington Council of 
Government estimates that transportation spending is falling short of 
this region's transportation needs by more than $1.43 billion annually.
  Any solution to current and future congestion demands strategic 
investment in both our road and mass transit system. It demands better 
land use and planning decisions and better interjurisdictional 
cooperation. And, it also demands that this region come together and 
raise additional revenue to finance priority transportation projects 
that will provide immediate congestion relief. Now, may finally be the 
time for this region to come together in a shared vision to raise new 
revenue and finance specific congestion relief projects that otherwise 
will not be built.
  It may not be a popular idea, but this region needs to do more. I 
think the key to public support is identifying a list of priority 
projects that could be completed on a fast track providing the public 
with the assurances that their additional tax dollars will buy specific 
congestion relief. A large number of urban communities have already 
established a dedicated funding source for their transit systems. Where 
is this region's?
  This region needs to look long term and embrace the vision its 
predecessors did when they created the regional agreements and compacts 
that created Metro or the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. 
The Metropolitan Washington Regional Transportation Act I am 
introducing today will help fulfill a new vision and help bring relief 
to the current gridlock:
  (1) It empowers the National Capital Region Transportation Planning 
Board in consultation with local jurisdictions and the public to 
produce a list of critical transportation projects and revenue sources 
that will address this region's growing congestion crisis;
  (2) It establishes a Corporation with the power to accept revenue and 
issue debt to provide timely funding for projects that have been agreed 
to by the region;
  (3) It grants congressional approval of a regional compact needed to 
help meet the region's long-term transportation needs; and
  (4) It provides $60 million in matching federal grants as an 
incentive to encourage the creation of the federal corporation.
  The Metropolitan Washington Regional Transportation Act will help 
create the political structure and funding priorities needed to 
implement a new vision.

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