U.S. Transit, Transportation & Infrastructure: Considerations & Developments – Volume 7

Policymakers at all levels of government are debating a wide range of options for addressing the nation’s faltering economic conditions. One option that is once again receiving attention is accelerated investments in the nation’s public infrastructure - that is, highways, mass transit, airports, water supply and wastewater, and other facilities - in order to create jobs while also promoting long-term economic growth. This book examines policy issues associated with using infrastructure as a mechanism to benefit economic recovery. Discussed are airline fees; factors which influence the extent of transit-oriented development; current law and legislative history of the federal excise tax on motor fuels and the highway trust fund; long-term financing of the highway trust fund; the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program; vehicle safety inspections; and seat belt use among long-haul truck drivers.