Home | National Transportation Policy Study Commission
1979
National Transportation Policy Study Commission
July 25, 1979
This report sounds an alarm!
The world’s best transportation system is in danger. It may not be able to meet the needs of a growing America.
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The present levels of public and private investment will not preserve the existing system.
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The demand for transportation will grow dramatically, outdistancing the rate of population growth by nine times for freight and four times for people.
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The capital investment required to meet the growing demand by the year 2000 exceeds $4 trillion, over $1 trillion from the public sector.
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Government over-regulation is inhibiting the return on investment necessary to attract capital for future growth.
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A maze of federal agencies, congressional committees and conflicting policies is driving up costs and retarding innovation.
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Highway fatalities could increase 45 percent, exceeding 66,000 annually by the year 2000.
- A lackluster energy policy, impeding production of oil, coal and other forms of energy, is endangering transportation’s ability to keep up with demand.
The NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION POLICY STUDY COMMISSION in its final report to Congress and the President includes over 80 specific recommendations to improve America’s transportation system. It is significant that the final report was unanimously adopted by a vote of 18 to 0, although, obviously, not every Commissioner agrees with every recommendation.
The world’s best transportation system need not decline. Implementation of the COMMISSION’s recommendations will contribute to the revitalization of transportation in America and help provide one of the critical prerequisites for economic growth and prosperity in the future.
America’s transportation system must be designed to meet the requirements of the people, not to dictate what those requirements should be. The American people and their leaders in both public and private sectors must squarely face the developing deficiencies in transportation and adopt new policies for the future.
Bud Shuster, M.C.
Chairman
