News

Here is a brief weekly update from the RTA business coalition – the voice of the regional business community on transportation.

Federal infrastructure legislation passes

Federal funding for transportation has been a substantial component of overall mobility revenues for many decades. While some elements of the federal funding picture continue to be quite challenging — the US federal motor fuels tax has not been raised for nearly 30 years, since 1993 — this week’s passage by the US House of Representatives of the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” represents a massive increase in funding for overall infrastructure at the national level.

The ratified legislation includes significant investments for roads, bridges, transit, electric vehicle charging, broadband, water and sewer, etc.  The federal investment in transit alone under this bill is the largest in history.

I attended a brief press event earlier this week where Congressman Price, Congresswoman Ross, NCDOT Secretary Boyette and several local officials highlighted the opportunities that the new and expanded funding will provide our region and state over the next several years. The president will sign the five year spending bill this coming week, and its passage will reduce uncertainty for a host of our partners as to the timing and amount of federal funding.  More in this week’s blog.

Looking ahead to January 2022

The regional business community and our partners are looking forward to the RTA winter 2022 Regional Leadership Tour to South Florida, presented by GoTriangle and the NC Railroad Company. Thank you to everyone who has already registered, and thank you to our tour sponsors WSP, the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, Kimley Horn, and HDR.

While participants hoping for “beach time” may be disappointed, as this will be a working tour with a series of executive briefings and field visits throughout the agenda, the shared learning and networking with elected and community leaders will be invigorating and well worth your time. Please register here; feel free to reach out to me or my colleague Iman Fullard with any questions.

Let’s get moving,

Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director

Click here for prior RTA Member Briefings and RTA Blogs.