group reports on biden and trump transportation initiatives

Whether Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins the White House in November or Donald Trump is re-elected to a second term, both have pledged themselves to a vigorous road and bridge-building effort for the next four years.

So says a new report published by the Washington-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association, noting that the two candidates are calling for more investment in the country’s transportation infrastructure.

The report notes that former Vice-President Biden has announced his support for a $2 million economic stimulus program that would include investments in road and bridge building and upkeep, while also emphasizing transit and what is known as “green infrastructure.”

Last November, Biden additionally proposed investing some $50 billion in road work during his first year in office, with federal funds going directly to cities and towns.

Addressing himself to the nagging issue of funding, Biden has also proposed raising corporate tax rates, while also closing tax loopholes in an effort to stabilize the federal Highway Trust Fund.

President Trump has re-emphasized his continuing support for what he called his Building a Stronger America plan, originally introduced in early 2018.

That plan calls for up to $200 billion in investments from Washington to pay for highway, transit, rail, and water infrastructure work.

Trump’s most recent transportation initiative, as a fiscal year 2021 budget proposal, would set up a 10-year, $810 billion surface transportation bill. That proposal includes $190 billion in “additional infrastructure investment.”

Neither Biden nor Trump specially address how to get around what has proven to be a durable Congressional opposition to raising the country’s federal fuel tax - revenues which would go into the Highway Trust Fund to pay for infrastructure work.

That tax of 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel has remained unchanged since 1993.

​By Garry Boulard

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