Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) President and CEO Regina Hopper commented today on the three-month MAP-21 extension being voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives, and on the ongoing work in the U.S. Senate to pass a long-term surface transportation authorization bill.
“While the country is in desperate need of a long-term transportation initiative, we remain hopeful that the three-month extension will provide time for the House and Senate to craft a bipartisan, fully-funded, long-term transportation bill before the end of the year.
Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman James Inhofe, Ranking Member Barbara Boxer, and Senators from both parties have put forward a proposal that begins the process of addressing both immediate needs while creating room for forward-looking initiatives through the inclusion of a Transportation Innovation title. This title accelerates the research and adoption of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) which will address many of the safety, environmental, new mobility and infrastructure challenges of our current transportations system. House Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster has also championed the need for such an Innovation Title.
ITS America’s members are ready to work with Members of Congress from both parties and chambers to address the difficult issues that will lead to a long-term, sustainable funding solution for our nation’s transportation future, while also investing in critical research and innovative technologies necessary to save lives on our roads, improve mobility, modernize transportation services, and strengthen our nation’s economic competitiveness.”
Original source: ITS America
