ACEC Meets with Obama DOT Transition Team.

WASHINGTON -- ACEC President David A. Raymond met with President-elect Obama's Department of Transportation transition team today to offer recommendations on infrastructure-based economic stimulus and follow-on highway and airports funding.

Raymond joined heads of several leading transportation organizations to voice support for significant transportation funding in the stimulus package.

"I emphasized that the program should incorporate both off-the-shelf projects that would spur immediate job creation as well as 'stimulus' for a steady pipeline of projects that would rebuild America's transportation base for continued economic growth," said Raymond.

"I recommended that transportation funding in the stimulus package should also be used as a lead-in to robust, multi-year funding in the next surface transportation bill, as the current law expires in September 2009."

Among other recommendations made by Raymond: stimulus funds should supplement and not displace already approved state funding for infrastructure; stimulus funds should be centered on private job creation rather than growth of government; the fuel tax should be increased and indexed to inflation to help fund the Highway Trust Fund; a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) funding mechanism should supplant the gas tax which is losing efficacy due to enhanced fuel efficiency and the growing popularity of alternative energy sources; make greater use of private capital sources; increase funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP); raise the cap on Passenger Facility Charges (PFC) and apply Qualifications-Based Selection to PFC projects; implement a needs-based bridge inspection and repair program utilizing licensed engineers; ensure uniformity in state compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations; and preserve state flexibility to access private engineering services.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America's engineering industry, representing approximately 5,700 independent engineering companies throughout the United States engaged in the development of America's transportation, environmental, industrial, and other infrastructure. Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 51 state and regional organizations.