AASHTO -- I Told the President

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1/25/2009 5:13:31 PM

We sorely need transit to get people to jobs, health care, shopping, and general quality of life.  Transit will help the environment, too.  This requires a big investment with assistance from the federal government, but we must act now.  With Baby Boomers retiring we will face increasing demands for senior transportation. Act now!

1/25/2009 4:51:45 PM

Please pass complete streets legislation to give people real transportation choices.  Today too many people drive not because they want to but because they don't feel safe biking or walking, even just to public transit if that's an option for them.

1/24/2009 9:41:21 PM

I do not understand why the MD State Highway Administration is always ignoring federal guidelines for bike accommodation like along the ICC, and pedestrian crosswalks. As 1/3 of all Americans are obese (fat = future medicare costs = tax $$$ for diabetes and heart disease) it seems foolish not to invest in  activities encouraging physical health esp in our youth.

1/23/2009 12:30:57 PM

Mr. President:
Great Inauguration..doing a fantastic Job
will let you know when you falter......
If you want to make work on the highway system add an additional lane everywhere it is possible...this would be without taking too much money for
purchasing land....in rural areas there 
are many places that a third lane is needed and would be far reaching for
future interstate expansion...all interstates in all states would be open for this option.....thank you.. 
                    President Obama
 
Gary & Joy Duke

1/22/2009 10:25:18 AM

Free or subsidized auto parking is the single biggest incentive for driving.  In all but the densest cities, the cost for parking is bundled-up with the prices of goods and services or with employee income and benefits.  Find and implement ways to unbundle the cost of parking and people will seek ways to reduce that cost by choosing alternate modes.
Businesses should not be able to write off parking as an expense.  Considering the massive impacts of auto parking, it must be treated as a service individuals pay for and not a "right."

1/21/2009 10:04:04 PM

Bike lanes

1/21/2009 8:12:50 PM

"Complete Streets" is the fundamental change that needs to be made to our nation's roads.  If we make all our roads friendly to walking, bicycling, and public transportation, that will reduce congestion, reduce the need for bigger roads, increase the life of our roads, reduce the amount of money we spend on transportation, and improve our health.

1/21/2009 6:58:51 PM

Some items I would like addressed are: trucks coming in from Canada and Mexico and stay running throughout the U.S for extended periods of time, Hauling American freight and not going home! We can't go into Canada or Mexico and do that. Also dual speed limits are hurting us and putting a limitation on our earnings and what we can accomplish within our hours of service limitations. It also creates traffic flow problems and safety issues when you have traffic merging in front of trucks moving 55mph and other traffic racing around and cutting trucks off as they try to cut over to make their exit. I would like to see actual truck drivers consulted as to new legislation, instead of people who have never actually been on the road in a truck, making rules that don't make sense and don't work! Company representatives are in it for the company itself not the drivers!

1/21/2009 10:12:55 AM

We have many roads with substandard pavement markings and signage. With the aging population, it is important to renew these items often to improve safety. This type of maintenance does not have a high price tag but will go a long way to improve the public's impression of our transportation system.

1/21/2009 10:08:22 AM

I have worked for over 20 years as a County Engineer in the State of Indiana.  Federal dollars take 7 to 10 years to reach a project.  Local revenues are capped by the State which sends few if any dollars to the roads and bridges.  Locals rely on MVH (Motor Vehicle Highway) revenues which are primarily from gas tax revenue.  This pool of money has historically increased at a rate of about 1% per year since the mid 1960's.  Within the last three years it has dropped at a rate of 5% to 6% per year.  At the same time the cost of materials has increased by 30% to 50% or more.  With the cost of salaries, fringes and insurance averaging 55% to 75% of the total MVH (some counties this is 100% of the fund), there is not enough money to operate a minimal maintenance program, much less try to find federal match money. Counties can not afford to preserve the roads to an acceptable level of service, much less do improvements to increase this level.  Statistically local roads are dangerous with a high percentage of fatalities.  This can and will not change until funding is supplied to local agencies for this purpose.  This funding must be allowed to be used under local standards or at least reduced standards much less than existing State and Federal standards. Right of way costs have soared over the last 20 to 30 years.  Projects should be allowed which would maximize benefits while minimizing costs.  This would include projects with reduced Right of Way requirements and reduced design standards while still making a major improvement for a local agency. Local agencies cannot afford more Federal unfunded mandates.  Two current mandates are the new line striping regulations and the new retroreflectivity standards for signs.  Congress should be required to have a "Day in the Field" with local agencies and see life in the trenches.

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