The White House has requested $500 million for its sustainable community effort, and a portion of it might be pulled from the road and bridge industry.
Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) challenged U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood on the move, which calls for $200 million in Federal Highway Administration money.
Murray appeared to be for the development of sustainable communities, but does not want anything to disrupt the planning for the next six-year highway bill. She also was concerned over how those at the federal level would define “sustainability” when determining who and what receive grants for local development plans.
Bond sided with Murray, saying, “I’m not as confident that trusting federal decision-makers to lead the process, to tell communities how they should grow, is the right way to go.”
Bond took his argument a step further and said the sustainability community movement may send a message to the public that Washington wants to “get rid of auto transportation.”
LaHood scoffed at the notion, and reminded lawmakers of the $30 billion that was recently transferred from the general Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund.
Meanwhile, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), ranking Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that he has doubts about the passage of a new six-year highway bill, saying Spring 2011 seems more realistic.
