Until Ways & Means Solves Transportation Funding, Stop Building New Highways

Statement by Kat Woodruff, 21st Century Transportation National Field Director at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, on the scheduled U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on long-term financing of the Highway Trust Fund.

“Chairman Ryan should stop building new highway lanes until the long-term transportation funding problem is solved.

“If the Ways and Means Committee can’t repair long-term funding for the Highway Trust Fund, then it’s time to press the pause button on federal funding for highway expansion. Use the money instead to fix our roads and bridges, and to enable Americans to better travel on public transit, bikeways and walkways. Do it without short-term budget gimmicks.

“Chairman Ryan should follow his fellow Midwest Republican leader, Illinois Governor, Bruce Rauner, who showed fiscal leadership by suspending new highway construction projects in the face of pending budget shortfalls.

“Illinois can face the tough financial truth. Will Chairman Ryan show the same fiscal leadership? American Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for questionable highway expansions that often turn out not to be needed in the first place.”