U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Tuesday, Feb. 14, praised President Obama’s $74 billion budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation, saying the funds will lay a new foundation for economic growth and competitiveness by investing in the nation’s national infrastructure network, building on recent safety achievements and modernizing transportation systems through research and innovation.
“A strong American economy depends on the roadways, runways and railways that move people and goods from coast to coast and around the globe,” says LaHood. The centerpiece of the president’s FY 2013 budget for DOT is a six-year $476 billion surface transportation reauthorization proposal that includes $305 billion for roads and bridges, a 34 percent increase over the previous authorization; $108 billion for transit options, a 105 percent increase over the previous authorization; and $2.5 billion for the first year of a six-year $47 billion rail investment plan for high-speed and intercity passenger rail corridors across the country.
The budget provides nearly $30 billion over the next six years for surface transportation safety programs, an increase of 137 percent over the previous authorization, including $330 million over six years for DOT’s ongoing campaign against distracted driving.
