Democratic congressman James Oberstar of Minnesota currently chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  A strong advocate for rail, transit and muscle-powered transport, he has served in the House of Representatives since 1974.

Representative Oberstar is an avid bicyclist and has secured federal funding for bicycle facilities since his election to the Transportation Committee in the 1990's.  He is considered a top expert on transportation policy in congress.  

 

Oberstar on the 2009 Stimulus Bill

Prior to the drafting of the 2009 Stimulus Bill, Rep. Oberstar created a stimulus blueprint that sought to increase the historical proportion of transit to highway funding.  He urged $12 billion for transit in the House version of the stimulus bill, and reportedly argued with Obama economic adviser Lawrence Summers who wanted no more than $9 billion [1].   In the end, $8.4 billion was allocated to transit in the final version of the bill that was signed into law in February 2009, while $29 billion went to highways. 

 

Recommendations for the 2009 Transportation Reauthorization

Oberstar supports a 10-cent increase in the gas tax but cautions that the country will need to transition away from the gas tax, as increased fuel economy and volatile gas prices deplete this crucial revenue source.   Instead, he is pushing for a vehicle miles tax that charges motorists 2-cents per mile driven.  This fee provides a dependable revenue stream and more accurately measures the true costs of driving [2], such as traffic, congestion, pollution and road wear.  However, the Obama Administration strongly opposes both a gas tax increase and a vehicle-miles user fee; the White House Press Secretary sharply rebuked Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for even considering it.   Oberstar countered that  “transportation policy is not going to be written in the newsroom of the White House, it's going to be written on Capitol Hill” [2]. 
 

Oberstar also pledges to make bicycle and pedestrian facilities a central part of the new transportation authorization [3].

He hopes to have a draft of the bill finished by June 2009; the current package (SAFETEA-LU) expires at the end of September 2009. 

Oberstar's Draft Federal Transportation Bill

In June 2009, Chairman Oberstar unveiled his draft for a 2009 Federal Transportation Reauthorization.  The $450 billion, six-year bill is a large funding leap from the 2005 bill, and allocates $87 billion in highway trust fund money to transit [5].  The precise revenue source was not identified in the draft [5], although Oberstar believes that either a gas tax hike or a vehicle miles fee will be necessary.    

Key Actions as Transportation Committee Chair

• Safe Routes to School.  In 2005, Oberstar helped to launch the Safe Routes to School program, securing more than $600 million in grants (via SAFETEA-LU) for sidewalks, bike paths and trails that would encourage walking and biking to school.
• Creation of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, a resource for all things related to safe walking and biking.  Funded by the Department of Transportation, it also includes the Pedestrian and Bicycle Image Library.  
• End of Mexican truck program.  Oberstar had always opposed the Bush Administration’s plans to allow Mexico-based trucking companies to operate inside the United States, as these companies did not adhere to basic standards for pollution-control, safety, vehicle maintenance or employee background checks.  In March 2009, Oberstar praised the Obama Administration’s abrupt cancellation of the Mexican Truck Pilot Program [4]. 
  

 

ALSO ON THE LIVABLE STREETS NETWORK

• All Streetsblog articles on James Oberstar
  

• 
  

REFERENCES

Each source is referred to by the same number every time it is cited. Please keep citation style consistent.

[1] Minnesota Rep Seeks to Increase Stimulus Transit Funding.  The Minnesota Independent, January 28, 2009. 

[2]Vehicle-mile fee and higher gas tax needed for road funding, key lawmaker says.  The New York Times.  March 9, 2009. 

[3] Oberstar says bike projects will be part of next authorization bill.  Bike Providence,  March 12, 2009. 

[4] Oberstar Lauds Termination of Mexican Truck Pilot Program.  Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, US House of Representatives, March 11, 2009.

[5] Schor, Elana. Oberstar’s New Transportation Bill:  Get the Highlights.   Streetsblog Capitol Hill, June 18, 2009.

 

PICTURE REFERENCES

Pictures are cited in the order they appear above. Please keep citation style consistent.

[1] Photo by Bikeportland.org on Flickr

[2]

 

FURTHER READING

• Congressman James L. Oberstar
  
• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee