Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990 TAG: 9003082160
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
President Bush and Transportation Secretary Samuel Skinner were unveiling the "national transportation policy" today to a gathering of industry officials - many of whom already have found reason to criticize it.
A coalition of 16 aviation industry groups said today that it strongly opposes Bush's proposed increases in aviation taxes, which the president's fiscal 1991 budget calls "user fees." The coalition said it objected to paying higher taxes that "get spent for other purposes - such as making the federal budget deficit look smaller than it really is."
A 108-page draft of the policy covered a wide range of issues affecting air, land and water transportation.
Anyone looking for a far-reaching program such as the interstate highway system begun in the Eisenhower administration is likely to be disappointed.
The policy statement outlined no strategy that would involve major federal funding beyond that already called for in the president's budget.
It proposed that users, including airline passengers and motorists, pay more of the cost of building, maintaining and administering major transport systems.
The draft set out six key goals:
Maintain and expand the nation's transportation system by shifting major responsibilities onto local governments and encouraging more private investment, while concentrating federal funding on projects of "national significance."
Foster a "sound financial base" for transportation, emphasizing user fees "as the key element to financing the federal share of transportation expenditures," as well as spending some of the billions of dollars in the aviation and highway trust funds.
Keep transportation businesses strong and competitive by deregulating the trucking industry and further deregulating other transportation sectors, including repealing railroad employee liability and retirement laws opposed by the rail industry.
Ensure that the transportation system supports public safety and national security.
Protect the environment and the quality of life by reducing pollution emissions by motor vehicles.
Advance U.S. transportation technology for the 21st century by encouraging research into high-speed rail, magnetically levitated trains, tiltrotor aircraft and "intelligent" vehicle and highway systems that use computers to increase safety and efficiency.
by CNB