Corinne Kisner, Executive Director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials today issued the following statement about the passage of the INVEST in America Act:Corinne Kisner, Executive Director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), today issued the following statement in response to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s INVEST in America Act:
Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the landmark INVEST in America Act, marking a critical step towards transforming transportation policy to improve safety, advance racial and economic equity, and combat the climate crisis.
A number of amendments added prior to the final vote strengthened what was already a strong bill. In particular, new measures will finally grant cities and local jurisdictions greater authority over project selection, give them access to the streamlined project delivery mechanisms currently only available to states, and offer them the opportunity to directly receive federal funds, cutting out arbitrary and cumbersome state-imposed requirements. These changes represent a long-needed shift to ensure that the federal transportation program enhances, rather than undermines, safety and sustainability efforts at the local level.
The INVEST Act commits to changing the outcomes that our transportation system delivers. From fixing existing infrastructure to making smart investments in transit, safety, and climate, this bill is the strongest proposal yet. As the White House and Senate debate the dollar amounts in a potential infrastructure package, NACTO urges following the House’s policy-based approach. We applaud the careful work and leadership of Chairman DeFazio and Committee staff in passing this transformative bill and will continue to champion it throughout the legislative process.
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About the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)
NACTO is an association of 89 major North American cities and transit agencies formed to exchange transportation ideas, insights, and practices and cooperatively approach national transportation issues. The organization’s mission is to build cities as places for people, with safe, sustainable, accessible, and equitable transportation choices that support a strong economy and vibrant quality of life. To learn more, visit nacto.org or follow us on Twitter at @NACTO.
Contact
Alex Engel | [email protected]
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2021