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• Provide funding to maintain Positive Train Control way to improve the safety and efficiency of our
(PTC) safety systems. The new federal requirements nation’s transportation systems. Provide funding
to install PTC systems will make rail travel safer assistance to states and local governments to meet the
than ever, but with few ways to fund operations and infrastructure needs of CAV technology.
maintenance of these systems, they risk falling into • Strong support for FHWA’s Traffic Incident
disrepair. Management (TIM) initiative to reduce and
eliminate injuries and deaths of crash victims and
• Increase funding for the High-Risk Rural Roads crash responders, such as public works, police, fire,
Program. Rural roads carry less than half of the tow-operators, and emergency medical services to best
Nation’s traffic, yet they account for over half of the protect the traveling public. APWA is a member of
vehicular deaths. Fifty-three percent (53%) of fatal the Executive Leadership Group for TIM and strongly
crashes and 54% of the 35,092 traffic fatalities in 2015 supports all TIM-related efforts.
occurred in rural areas. Increased federal investment • Allow the greatest flexibility possible in use of
in rural safety projects for all modes of travel can help Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS/drones) for public
reverse these trends. works purposes. Public works professionals working
in the transportation sector utilize drones in various
• Support an expanded National Distracted Driver capacities such as bridge inspections, aerial surveys of
Safety Education Campaign. According to the land and existing roads, traffic monitoring, weather
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration impacts on transportation infrastructure, and aerial
(NHTSA), using a cell phone while driving creates photography for public information. While we
enormous potential for deaths and injuries on U.S. recognize the importance of air safety and privacy,
roads. In 2017, motor vehicle crashes involving it is important federal regulations do not become so
distracted drivers resulted in 3,166 fatalities. Giving onerous and burdensome that localities lose drones as
states incentives to conduct their own campaigns can a cost-effective tool for public works data gathering.
expand the impact of NHTSA’s educational campaign. There needs to be a good balance between protecting
the public, while serving the needs of public works
• Provide incentives to states to educate drivers as and infrastructure.
driver’s license renewals are required. The trend
across the U.S. is to require minimal testing for driver APWA recognizes efforts by Congress and the
license renewals for minimal fees. Providing a 10 Administration to maintain and improve our
- 15 minute safety training video (on subjects such nation’s transportation infrastructure and to
as “texting while driving” and “consequences of not streamline the project delivery process. However,
using seat belts”) for all license renewals will not only much remains to be done. APWA offers the above
improve driver and road safety, but could be an avenue recommendations to continue these efforts and
for additional road safety funding from increased stands ready to assist with their implementation.
licensing fees. To improve infrastructure in our country we all
must step up to address these important issues
• Increase investment in local bridges by providing and form a collaborative partnership. The largest
more funding for off-system bridges and for local hurdle is funding, because without adequate
bridges not on the National Highway System. In funding, very little progress is possible.
2017, FHWA rated 50,000 of the Nation’s off-system
highway bridges as structurally deficient (52% of the APWA strongly urges Congress to:
structurally deficient bridge area is off-system) – we
can work together to fix this dangerous situation. • Substantially increase by 25 cents and index the
federal motor fuel tax in the short-term;
• Increase flexibility in use of Highway Safety
Improvement Program (HSIP) funds on unpaved • Transition to a vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) or
roads and a wider variety of projects beyond those similar user fee as soon as possible; and
listed in the regulations, so cities and counties can
meet growing transportation safety needs. Reducing • Enact a federal transportation reauthorization
the data required to implement this program will bill that is a minimum of 6 years long.
allow more rural communities and smaller cities to
participate in the program.
• Invest strongly in modern vehicle technology, such
as Intelligent Transportation Systems and connected
and autonomous vehicles (CAV), as a cost-effective
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