November 12, 2015
Dear Members of the Conference Committee on HR 22:
Congress is on the verge of taking a major step in addressing some of our nation’s most pressing
transportation issues. We congratulate the Senate and the House for their action on this issue which is so
vital to our nation’s economy and global competitiveness. Both the Senate and the House have included
thoughtful provisions on the following needs that are so essential for the 12-state Great Lakes trading
area, which produces 35% of US manufacturing output, provides 42% of US manufacturing jobs, and
accounts for 28% of exports:
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A multi-year lifespan – at least three years – to provide more certainty for projects
Complementary permissible financing tools and techniques to augment traditional funding
A multi-modal approach to make our transport systems more seamless
Development of freight corridors to assure our region’s competitiveness
Projects of national importance to eliminate major shortcomings and bottlenecks
Expedited processes and permitting to speed-up planning, review and construction
Flexibility for state and local governments to set priorities for the best use of federal funding
As you work collaboratively toward the final version of the bill, we hope that you will carefully consider
our views on the following sections which address a number of the provisions above. For your reference,
we have also provided a summary comparison of those provisions.
National Freight Program/National Highway Freight Network and Funding
The final bill should include the House’s more comprehensive designation approach in section 1110,
combined with the Senate’s hard funding levels in section 11003.
While the House version of the bill includes a more comprehensive designation of freight movement
systems and specifically lists the Great lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, the only funding it specifically
sets aside for freight programs is the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects grant program,
which the Senate has, as well. The Senate bill includes specific funding levels for freight movement
investments.
National Strategic Freight Plan
The final bill should include the Senate’s provisions in section 42001. While the House (section 8001) and
Senate provisions are very similar, the Senate’s additional specific provisions regarding access to
manufacturing and areas of freight movement congestion are more beneficial for the Great
Lakes/Midwest region.
November 12, 2015
GLMCC Letter on Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Page 2
Projects of Regional or National Significance
The final bill should include this important approach in some form. The Senate’s approach in section
11025 emphasizes larger and fewer projects, while the House approach in section 1111 favors smaller and
more projects. Perhaps there is a way to blend the best features of both versions.
Tolling, Toll Credits and HOV Lanes
The final bill should include the Senate version in sections 11019, 11020, 11021, and 11029. The Senate’s
changes offer States greater flexibility to utilize tolls as a method to increase state transportation funding
and reduce congestion than the House changes in section 1401.
The final bill should not include House provisions in section 1401 that eliminate the authority in 23 USC
129 for states to convert HOV lanes to tolled lanes and toll expanded bridge or tunnel capacity, which are
an important potential tool for addressing congested corridors.
User-Fee or Gas Tax Revenue Raisers for the Highway Trust Fund or Related State Authorities
The bill should include the House version in section 6105. Overall, the House provisions give states more
flexibility to explore and test user-fee systems than the Senate version in section 12004. Also, the House
process for approving such state systems is less bureaucratic.
Duration
We understand that additional revenue for the Highway Trust Fund was added on the House floor and
that there is some debate over whether to increase the annual funding levels or increase the number of
years funded in the final bill. The bill should be at least three years but probably shorter than six years.
A shorter authorization period with significantly increased funding will have more immediate impact on
our nation’s festering transportation problems while still addressing the need for a longer planning
horizon for our states and communities.
We will be happy to discuss our views on these significant provisions with you. You may follow up by
contacting Ed Wolking, our executive director, [email protected], or 313-596-0304.
Overall, HR 22 is an indispensable step forward in the development of the transport systems which are so
vital to our region’s manufacturers, agricultural producers, shippers and travelers. American prosperity
depends on the ability to move goods and materials seamlessly within the Great Lakes trading area. In
the Midwest, the nation’s industrial and agricultural core, a single disruption in a “just in time” supply
chain component due to inadequate infrastructure can impact results throughout the entire chain.
We are greatly encouraged by your bipartisan approach to the critical surface transportation issues facing
our nation and are looking forward to your development of a strong and responsible final bill.
November 12, 2015
GLMCC Letter on Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Page 3
Sincerely,
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce
Allegheny Conference
Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Detroit Regional Chamber
Duluth Chamber of Commerce
Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership
Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce
Greater Cleveland Partnership
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
Greater Louisville Inc. – The Metro Chamber of Commerce
Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce
Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance
Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce
Quad Cities Chamber
Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce
Southwest Michigan First
Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce
Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce