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"T this committee will continue our oversight to ensure that regulations are consistent with the law and with congressional intent,” says Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.). (Rod Lamkey/Associated Press)

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Before leaving Washington for their August recess, congressional transportation leaders renewed calls for improving safety along the country’s mobility corridors.

During a recent House committee hearing, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) pressed colleagues and the transportation community to rededicate resources and efforts meant to enhance supply chain connectivity as well as safety for commuters and the freight workforce.

Larsen, the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, pointed to funding approved in 2021’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act specific to safety-centric projects and applications. The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law provided the U.S. Department of Transportation with billions of dollars for new highway safety projects.

“This DOT, under the leadership of Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg, is implementing policies to make our transportation systems cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible,” Larsen said July 24. “As the administration continues to implement the [bipartisan infrastructure law], this committee will continue our oversight to ensure that regulations are consistent with the law and with congressional intent.”

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“Traveling by car, truck, bike or foot remains one of the riskiest things we do on a day-to-day basis,” observed Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), ranking member on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee. “It is imperative that we address safety issues from all perspectives and listen to those impacted. No one person or stakeholder has all the answers, but I believe collectively we can take a stronger approach to reducing injuries and fatalities.”

For Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), ranking member on the Commerce Committee on freight policy, the current administration’s directives should emphasize safer transportation infrastructure.

“Unfortunately, the Biden administration has consistently failed to prioritize new freeways, has consistently failed to prioritize infrastructure and instead, the Biden administration has allowed itself to be distracted by political pet projects,” he said during a recent hearing.

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“Things like bike lanes,” Cruz continued, “and things like the allegation that there are racist roads we need to be worried about — instead of focusing on the important task of building more damn roads.”

Ultimately, there is bipartisanship in Congress over the need to end fatalities on the nation’s roadways. House and Senate lawmakers often cite data determining nearly 41,000 individuals died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year.

When transportation leaders return to Capitol Hill in September, there is an expectation panels of jurisdiction will begin outlining multiyear highway-policy legislation. Congressional leaders point to next year as the official starting point for negotiations on the upcoming comprehensive highway measure.

Meanwhile, proceeding with national safety improvements is a pillar of the bipartisan infrastructure law. As the administration pursues its Vision Zero campaign to reach zero traffic fatalities by 2050, DOT is moving ahead with its National Roadway Safety Strategy. The updated guiding document is designed to assist modal sectors at the local, state and regional levels.

“The ongoing crisis on our roadways serves as a somber reminder of the challenges we face as a nation,” according to DOT’s “2024 Progress Report on the National Roadway Safety Strategy.” “Though we see a positive potential trend in fatality and serious injury rates and are cautiously optimistic that recent USDOT efforts described in this progress report are leading us where we want to go, the department strives for zero motor vehicle and road traffic fatalities on our highways, roads and streets.”

“The numbers still constitute a crisis, and our work is in many ways just beginning,” Buttigieg stated in the progress report’s introduction. “We will continue to build upon the efforts and achievements of the first two years to improve roadway safety – and in this report we will identify areas that are posting good results, as well as those that warrant new actions.”

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