Permitting the government to compete with private, off-highway businesses would result in higher costs for consumers, lost revenues for towns and localities nationwide, shuttered small businesses and lost jobs, a top truckstop official said in a recent letter published in the Washington Examiner.
04-24-2017 NATSO led a group of trade associations representing hundreds of thousands of small businesses in urging members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to oppose H.R. 1990, recently introduced by Congressman Jim Banks (R-Ind.), that would permit commercial services such as convenience stores and restaurants at Interstate rest areas. NATSO was joined in signing the letter by the National Federation of the Blind, National Association of Convenience Stores, National Council of Chain Restaurants, Petroleum Marketers Association of America, and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America.
04-07-2017 Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on March 22 introduced legislation that he said will generate nearly $500 billion to rebuild U.S. roads, bridges and transit systems.
03-23-2017 On March 8 the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation held a hearing to examine infrastructure funding needs and options. The hearing was largely positive from NATSO’s perspective, as all participants recognized the critical need to invest money to repair and improve America’s roads and bridges, and also recognized the superiority of direct federal spending — for example, by raising the fuel excise tax — as opposed to “public private partnerships” which can lead to undesirable revenue-raising mechanisms such as tolling and rest area commercialization.
03-13-2017 Just days after President Trump reiterated his call for a $1 Trillion infrastructure package, the Administration convened a meeting of more than 15 federal agencies to begin formulating an official infrastructure proposal, including potential projects and funding options.
03-03-2017 President Donald Trump intends to push a $1 trillion infrastructure plan that is expected to materialize this spring. The President’s plan for rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure is expected to rely on private investment instead of the federal government to back transportation projects.
03-01-2017 During his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump reiterated his call for a $1 trillion infrastructure package that would be financed with both public and private funds.
03-01-2017 For the second time in as many weeks, a key congressional committee held a hearing to consider funding options for improving the nation’s infrastructure. Throughout the hearing, senators emphasized the need to find direct funding opportunities — such as raising the motor fuel excise tax — because private financing does not provide a complete solution, especially in rural communities.
02-09-2017 The U.S. Senate on Jan. 31 voted 93 to 6, confirming Elaine Chao as the 18th Secretary of Transportation, replacing outgoing Secretary Anthony Foxx.
01-31-2017 Senate Democrats on Jan. 24 introduced a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, laying down a marker for President Donald Trump, who pledged to introduce a massive infrastructure package during his first 100 days in office.
01-30-2017 Speaking at The NATSO Show 2017, David Fialkov, NATSO’s vice president of government affairs, told attendees that he expects an increased interest in tolling and rest area commercialization as lawmakers look to boost infrastructure funding levels.
01-23-2017