WASHINGTON- Congressmen Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Geoff Davis (R-KY) provided testimony this morning before the Highways and Transit Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the authorization of programs of regional and national significance in the 2011 Transportation Bill.

During his testimony, Chabot stated that “A 2009 study done by the Texas Transportation Institute concluded that completing the Brent Spence Bridge project would save 2.9 million person-hours of delay, 210,000 vehicle-hours of delay, and 1.22 million gallons of fuel every year. Over the next 20 years, this would result in $18.9 billion in benefits for commuters, shippers, and manufacturers.

“The numbers are powerful on their own.  But with freight serving as a key determinant of our economic competitiveness in the new global economy, projects like the Brent Spence Bridge carry even greater significance.  With the price of oil at over $100 a barrel and freight traffic scheduled to increase by 10% by 2030, our ability to efficiently move goods within our nation’s borders is critical to keeping the price of American goods low and competitive in the global marketplace.”  

Congressman Davis stated, “The Brent Spence Bridge is illustrative of projects that impact the nation as a whole.  It carries over $400 billion in freight annually across the Ohio River for the American economy.  That is approximately three percent of the U.S. gross domestic product in 2010.  By 2030, the amount of freight is expected to increase to $813 billion, annually.  In other words, the Brent Spence Bridge is critical infrastructure for the American economy.  The House surface transportation authorization bill must include a mechanism to account for these types of projects.”

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