According to David Kim, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Government Affairs at the Department of Transportation, efforts are under way to develop principles for the new long-term authorization of surface transportation programs. Rather than developing detailed legislative language, DOT is looking to expand more generally on its priorities from the past year and to ultimately “rethink the federal program” by making it “outcome and performance-based.” Focusing on simplifying the program, DOT will look for suggestions from the bill authored by Rep. Jim Oberstar and 1909 Commission Report in writing its principles.

Some of the goals include collapsing individual programs, creating broader discretion and more flexibility, and working on performance measures. These efforts will also address freight needs in the nation and the option of creating a separate dedicated program for freight needs alone. DOT should issues its principles this summer.

Also underway are considerations of future infrastructure funding under the National Infrastructure Investment program, which is likely to borrow from the TIGER program enacted through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The TIGER program proved a good model for funding multimodal transportation projects and has garnered much support from members of the Senate. Trying to build on these successes, DOT should be issuing guidance addressing the National Infrastructure Investment program in the coming weeks and applications for funding will likely come due in August 2010 with grants being awarded in October.