Transportation
Our nation must use an integrated approach to solve our transportation problems. While building a strong roadway system is essential, we must work to provide Americans with alternative methods of transportation as well.
Transportation alternatives, like mass transit, passenger rail and bike lanes, improve air quality, reduce our reliance on foreign oil and support healthier lifestyles. Furthermore, considering transportation is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, we cannot effectively fight climate change without addressing pollution from the transportation sector.
Fuel Efficiency — The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was a landmark effort to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil and decrease air pollution. The legislation included a bipartisan compromise - developed by my colleagues and I in the Senate - to increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard by 10 miles per gallon to 35 miles per gallon by model year 2020. The CAFE standard had not been adjusted since 1975, and this compromise includes new flexibilities for automakers.
First, if it is determined that this new fuel economy standard is not technologically feasible, would reduce vehicle safety or is not cost effective, then the standard can be lowered. Second, appropriate standards are set for each type of vehicle (compact car, crossover vehicles, mid-sized SUVs, pick-up trucks, etc.) based on its size and purpose.
Earlier this year, the Obama Administration announced it was accelerating the ramp-up of fuel efficiency standards, requiring a fleetwide average of 35.5 miles per gallon for new vehicles by 2016. This will save Americans an estimated around 1.4 million barrels of oil per day by 2020, which is nearly the amount of oil imported today from the Persian Gulf. Consumers will benefit by saving approximately $30 billion at the pump in that time period, based on a $2.25 per gallon gas price.
Effective Intercity Rail — One of my legislative priorities since coming to Congress has been building a healthy intercity rail system. Amtrak meets the transportation needs of millions of Americans and thousands of businesses nationwide, including more than 700,000 Delaware riders each year.
On October 16, 2008, then-President Bush signed into law the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act. This measure included a substantial new investment in intercity passenger rail to provide more rail service nationwide, and bring the Northeast Corridor into a state of good repair. The measure also requires trains be equipped with sensors to help prevent crashes. This bill was a bipartisan vote of confidence in America's rail system, and its enactment provides Amtrak the comprehensive assistance needed to operate a modern and safe national passenger rail system that millions rely on each year. The bill also puts Amtrak on track to become more self-sufficient, allowing federal operating subsidies to be redirected to innovative revitalization projects like those planned near the Wilmington train station.
An additional major commitment to creating a strong, national passenger rail system was included in The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. That economic stimulus package included $8 billion in competitive grants for new intercity passenger rail and high-speed rail. This is a critical step toward modernizing our transportation infrastructure, with a focus on reducing our reliance of foreign oil and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Strong Infrastructure — Also included in The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was $27.5 billion for highways and $8.4 billion for transit investments to repair crumbling infrastructure and create jobs.
This is an important step to strengthen and improve our transportation system, but we have a big challenge ahead of us. Because of high fuel prices followed by a slumping economy, Americans have been driving less. And because we fund our transportation programs through the gas tax, this has created a transit funding problem. Congress will need to explore many options to ensure that we have the funding necessary to maintain and expand our transportation system.
We will also need to make sure that this funding is going to a program that Americans have faith in; one that is less reliant on foreign oil and one that reduces costs to American families. Transportation is the second largest budget items for most families, just behind housing. This is because we built homes far from work places, provided few transit options, and we made it unsafe for a child to even walk to school. We must address these issues in the next transportation bill, especially if we are going to ask Americans to pay more for it.
Climate Change — As we develop a comprehensive climate change bill, we must consider how every sector of the economy can play a part in lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the transportation sector must be a bigger part of the debate, given that it accounts for one third of our total greenhouse gas emissions.
Even with significant improvements in fuel economy standards, the transportation sector will account for more emissions as Americans continue to increase their vehicle miles traveled. By incorporating transportation provisions into a climate change bill, we will have the chance to start addressing many problems at once. That is why I introduced the Clean Low-Emission, Affordable, New Transportation Efficiency Act (CLEAN TEA) to reserve a portion of climate change auction proceeds to change Americans' driving habits by funding rail, transit, bike and pedestrian trails and other forms of transportation.
In a recent op-ed, I explained why CLEAN TEA is integral to the success of emissions reduction goals.