With over 130 transportation funding bills introduced this year in 36 states, it’s clear that many lawmakers outside of the Nation’s capital understand the importance of supporting infrastructure investment. Some have passed measures signed into law by their governor, while others continue to shepherd proposals through their statehouse. In five states, lawmakers have passed legislation in 2017 to increase motor fuel taxes to support needed transportation investment.

Five state legislators will discuss their experiences, share advice on strategies to increase transportation funding, and seek to answer the question of “why now?” at the 4th Annual “National Workshop for State & Local Transportation Advocates,” being held July 12 at the Hyatt Regency Washington in Washington, D.C.

A “State Transportation Funding Champion Legislators” session will feature:

  • Montana Rep. Frank Garner (R- District 7). Rep. Garner will discuss his state’s successful 2017 legislation to increase the gas tax by 6 cents-per-gallon— his state’s first gas tax increase since 1994— as well as implement a new fee for electric and hybrid vehicles.
  • Tennessee Senate Speaker Pro Tem Jim Tracy (R- District 16). Speaker Pro Tem Tracy will share his experience with a successful multi-year campaign to increase the state’s gas tax and transportation-related fees.
  • Louisiana Rep. Kenneth Havard (R- District 62). Rep. Havard will give insight into the challenges and strategies of the campaign to increase transportation funding in Louisiana.
  • Oregon Rep. Brad Witt (D- District 31). Rep. Witt will explore a (currently pending) 2017 proposal to provide an $8.2 billion state transportation funding increase— how it was developed, why it was needed, and the campaign to advance it in the state legislature.

Additionally, Idaho State Sen. Bert Brackett (R- District 23), will join the “Tried & True: Raising Motor Fuel Taxes to Support New Transportation Investment” session to discuss 2015 legislation that included a flat excise tax increase. He will also discuss how the decision was made to continue the state’s fixed cent-per-gallon fuel tax structure and whether alternative fuel tax structures were debated. Additionally, Sen. Brackett will discuss Idaho’s 2017 transportation legislation seeking to continue to provide support for the state’s roads.

Other sessions include:

  • “2016 – 2017 State Transportation Funding Increases Roundtable”
  • “Alternative Transportation Funding Options”
  • “2013 State Gas Tax Increases: Where are They Now?”
  • “State and Local Transportation Funding Trends”
  • “Building America’s Economic Expressway Campaign”
  • “Federal Transportation Funding Developments”

Only one month left! View the full agenda and register at: www.transportationinvestment.org. Contact ARTBA’s Carolyn Kramer at ckramer@artba.org or by phone at 202.683.1025 with questions.

The Workshop, a signature program of the Transportation Investment Advocacy Center™ (TIAC), is being held in conjunction with ARTBA’s Public-Private Partnerships (P3) in Transportation Conference.