The AASHTO Board of Directors wants Congress to enact a six-year highway and transit reauthorization legislation funded at the $318 billion level passed by the Senate.

AASHTO Vice-President Bryan Nicol, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation, said "We need to send a message that a six-year bill ought to pass, it ought to be well-funded…we need to say it and say it again. Very clearly, we need a well-funded six-year bill in order to get our jobs done."

The board also urged in a letter to Senate Majority Leader William Frist, R-TN, enactment of legislation that:

• At a minimum increases the core federal-aid highway programs that are apportioned to the states in proportion to overall total funding increases;
• Minimizes diversion of apportioned highway and transit program funds to other, non-core programs;
• Maintains funding guarantees and budgetary firewalls for highways and transit from the trust fund and transit's portion of the general fund; and
• Ensures the long-standing prerogative of state and local decision making with respect to apportioned funds.

Allen Biehler, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, added "Our infrastructure needs have been identified a number of times. The $318 billion target allows both highways and transit to be addressed in a sufficient manner, and $318 billion is a number that can allow us to address minimum guarantee without harming donors or donees.