FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 27, 1998
Contact: Bill Adams
Tel.: (202) 366-5580
DOT 36-98
Transportation Funds Should Be
Distributed In A Balanced Way, Says Slater
The Department of Transportation announced that Secretary Rodney E. Slater will address the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Monday, March 9. Slater will affirm President Clinton’s resolve that any increased funding under ISTEA reauthorization must be distributed in a balanced way to include transit as well as highway construction.
Yesterday, Slater told the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) that President Clinton would support increased transportation investment if the increase is consistent with the bipartisan balanced budget. Equally important, if increased funding levels are authorized in the legislation, transit should receive an equitable share of that increase.
"If additional funds are allocated, they must be distributed in a balanced say," Slater said. "Funds will go to transit and environmental and safety programs, as well as highway construction."
The Clinton administration has emphasized investment in transit and highways in order to rebuild America. Slater stated he opposes the imposition of a minimum allocation formula for transit funds and that allocating transit funds based on gas tax revenues and not on the basis of transit needs is the wrong approach.
Such an approach would limit efforts all across the country to invest in new or expanded transit systems to meet pressing environmental goals and transit needs, especially among seniors, persons with disabilities and the transit-dependent, said the Secretary.
Slater reiterated the Administration’s firm support for the continued application of the Davis-Bacon Act and other federal labor standards and employee protection requirements afforded working people on federally assisted highway and transit projects. In addition, the Administration strongly supports extending federal worker protections to projects assisted by innovative financing programs. The Administration would oppose any amendments repealing or limiting these protections.
Slater called on Congress to avoid "some 200 troubling ISTEA amendments," which have the potential to derail the entire process on environment and labor issues and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
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