WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) hearing on the nomination of Victor M. Mendez for administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Senator Kit Bond today stressed the importance of tackling our nation’s daunting transportation problems, particularly the insolvent highway trust fund, rising construction costs and an overburdened transportation system.

 

            “Your pending confirmation comes at a critical period in transportation policy and I can’t overstate the importance of this position in moving the Federal Highway Administration and the country forward,” said Bond. “You will face an insolvent highway trust fund that will need more than a band-aid to fix, rising construction costs and a transportation system busting at the seams. Needless to say the task ahead is certainly daunting.”

 

             During the hearing, Bond emphasized the importance of transportation policy to economic growth.  The Senator has long stressed that quality infrastructure connects people and communities to one another.  He highlighted this connection as one that attracts and sustains businesses, jobs and a high quality of life for residents.  Unfortunately, this connection is experiencing real strain.  Bond noted the U.S. population is outgrowing its transportation infrastructure, people are driving at historic highs, and congestion rates are up with more people sitting in traffic next to trucks carrying products to and from businesses across the globe.

 

            Bond also expressed concern regarding federal regulations and transportation project delivery times. He emphasized that the cost of transportation projects across the county are increasing while contractors, municipalities and state transportation agencies deal with a confusing federal bureaucracy and a complicated project development process. Bond asserted that this impediment triples project costs, increases highway congestion, decreases productivity and compromises road safety. 

 

Despite these concerns, Bond remained optimistic and told Mendez that the U.S. can reestablish its transportation infrastructure connection between people and communities. Bond proposed that Congress and the FHWA work together to create and implement a transportation authorization bill that makes essential infrastructure investments and provides taxpayers a good return on those investments. Bond also proposed that Mendez develop a long term plan, which includes building a new vision for our surface transportation network with highways as a central component of a larger, flexible and well-connected system, rather than an isolated system. 

 

            “Being a former Governor, I am always happy to see nominees that have a good understanding of the states’ perspective in a federal role,” said Bond. “And with your many years dedicated to the state of Arizona, I appreciate the perspective that you would bring to the Federal Highway Administration.  This perspective will serve you well in taking on many of the challenges that lay ahead.”

 

Victor Mendez was the former Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation.  Mendez also served as President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

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