Transportation
Texas has long depended on solid infrastructure and the steady flow of transportation for our economic prosperity. Among the 50 states, Texas ranks first in total rail mileage at over 10,700 miles, and first in interstate highway mileage at over 3,200 miles. Texas' almost 300 airports comprise a vast aviation network, with facilities like Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Houston/George Bush (IAD) that annually rank in the top 10 busiest in the nation. Texas' many ports and waterways play a major role in commerce and travel. Expanding bus, light rail, and mass transit systems across the state work to ensure Texans an efficient commute and a safe trip home.
Senator Hutchison has fought to improve transportation systems across Texas. Over the course of her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Texas' rate of return on federal fuel taxes paid into the Highway Trust Fund has significantly increased. Transit systems in cities like Austin, Dallas, and El Paso have made improvements in capacity, connectivity and ridership. Advancing high speed rail networks in Texas has also been a top priority, as well as modernizing our aging air traffic control system to improve aviation travel across the state.
With the recent Senate passage of FAA modernization legislation and the expected consideration of a new Highway Reauthorization bill in the 112th Congress, Senator Hutchison is prepared to take the lead in finding responsible transportation solutions for Texas and the U.S.
Senator Hutchison's continues to work in the 112th Congress to improve transportation:
- Introduced the Freedom From Tolls Act of 2011 to prohibit adding tolls to existing federal highways. Sen. Hutchison has worked to eliminate this form of double taxation since 2005, when she introduced a similar tolling prohibition amendment to the Senate verison of the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
- Introduced the Highway Fairness and Reform Act of 2011 to allow states to opt-out of the federal highway program and instead receive a rebate of federal fuel taxes collected in their states. This bill is designed to ensure a dollar for dollar return on gas tax revenue generated by a state. Texas has long been classified as a "donor state" because the current funding scheme sends a portion of their gas tax dollars to "donee" states, diverting federal funding away from Texas' own critical transportation needs.
- Introduced legislation to reform the regulatory mandate that requires rail lines that carry passengers or certain toxic chemical to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) by 2015. PTC is an automated technology that is capable of preventing train collisions, overspeed derailments and injuries to railroad employees. This bill requires PTC implementation reflect 2015 traffic patterns, in order to reduce compliance cost while maintaining a safe rail system.
- Cosponsored the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2011 to ensure effective oversight of our freight rail system.
