2013 SCOWT WASHINGTON MEETING/ WASHINGTON, DC20 JUNE2013

AASHTO Waterborne Freight

Bottom Line ReportChris Smith

Intermodal Policy and Program ManagerAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

AASHTO Bottom Line Reports

AASHTO commissioned this report because the navigable waterways in 38 of the 50 states provide substantial economic benefits to the entire United States…

State DOTs recognize the significant role the nation’s marine transportation assets play in terms of freight mobility as well as recognize the adverse effects for highways should waterborne freight be diverted…

Waterborne Freight Bottom Line Report

“Business As Usual”

• Leads to unacceptable further declines in condition and performance

• Significant lost opportunities for our nation’s economy

• Basic Maintenance and Preservation

• Delays in Project Delivery• Inadequate Funding• Uncohesive Federal

jurisdiction and national investment strategy

Issues

Alternatives for Action• Direct Corps to develop plan to address

maintenance backlog with 2020 as goal for elimination

• Authorize new WRDA! Project Delivery streamlining Upgraded BCAs Full HMT Utilization with exemptions for domestic

MH services

Alternatives for Action• Establish new Office of Multi-Modal Freight at

USDOT

• Freight Conditions and Performance Economic Impact of Marine Transportation

System Environmental Analysis and Mitigation Long-range national vision

Recommendations• Promote Best Practices and Guidance for

State, Regional and Local planning

Current State of PlayMAP-21 Implementation

State Freight PlanningNational Freight Network,

Strategic Plan, Conditions and Performance Report

Sense of the Congress

Office of Multimodal Freight

Current State of PlayWRDA Authorization•S. 601 passed 85-14

Process Reform HMTF Addressed - 2020

•House bill expected this summer

WRDA in the House"Producing a WRDA bill is going to be a challenge because members of Congress can no longer specifically request projects that they know will have significance to the national economy, but I'm determined to find a way to address those priorities as we move forward”

It will be up to lawmakers and industry to educate citizens about why the federal government should be investing in water infrastructure…one of the least understood modes of transportation.

Policy•Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Water Resources SubcommitteeOngoing policy hearings

Appropriations•Appropriations Committee

Energy and Water Resources SubcommitteeCorps appropriators – DRAFT Bill June 17th HMTF spending - $1 billion in FY 2014

Tax Reform•Ways and Means Committee

HMTF Reform

WRDA in the House

What’s Next• Continue MAP-21 Implementation Advocacy

Many States already integrating marine networks

Comments filed on Interim Guidance for State Freight Plans

National Freight Network Conditions and Performance Report

Continue support of Marine Highway Designations and Services

What’s NextWRDA

• AASHTO Adopted Principles

• Letter filed to Senate leadership

• Bottom Line Report as Education Tool for House

Thank YouChris Smith

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

202-624-5839 or 202-350-1295csmith@aashto.org

http://water.transportation.org

@SEMINOLE04