Transportation Officials Look Ahead To Stimulus Package

shovel-safe
shovel-safe

The Michigan Department of Transportation is waiting to see what effect the new Biden administration will have on road funding moving forward. Speaking on the most recent episode of Talking Michigan Transportation, MDOT’s podcast, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials spokesperson Lloyd Brown said the nomination of Pete Buttigieg for Secretary of Transportation is a reason for some optimism.

“He’s really known as somebody who builds relationships,” Brown said. “He’s somebody who builds networks and seems truly interested in the issues and learning the issues. He also is somebody who I think has a serious mind for policy.”

Brown is waiting to see what kind of road funding solutions the Biden administration comes up with .

“Early in the Biden administration, we are going to see some sort of stimulus program, maybe not exactly like the 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but it’s going to be along those same lines.”

Brown says he expects infrastructure funding to be in the package. Moving forward he says possibilities for generating road revenue include a carbon tax or user fees on roads, based on miles driven. During a confirmation hearing, Buttigieg talked about the nation’s “auto-centric” history at the expense of other transportation modes.