The Transportation Dept. Nominee

The Washington Post had an article today about Mary Peters, the Bush nominee for transportation secretary.

Bush had this to say:

"Mary Peters is the right person for the job," the president said. "Mary led efforts to improve safety and security, reduce traffic congestion, and modernize America's roads and bridges. . . . Mary has a reputation for character and common sense. She's an innovative thinker."

Photo credit: Evan Vucci/Associated Press

As a remedy for the aging infrastructure of our nation's highways, railways, airports and seaports, Peters said:

The federal highway program could run out of money by the end of the decade. "You just can't depend on the federal government to bring the money in that was around when the interstate system was first built."

A similar piece in the New York Times provided some additional sneak previews into her agenda:

Ms. Peters is a member of an advisory board created by the Reason Foundation, a conservative research and policy group. Robert Poole, the foundation’s director of transportation, said Ms. Peters had been “outspoken” in advocating public-private partnerships for new roads, and getting away from the traditional model of using gasoline taxes. Revenue from those taxes has not kept up with the inflation in building costs, Mr. Poole said.

OK, class. Repeat after me, and let's say it all together: TOLL ROADS. Can you say it?

As federal highway administrator, Ms. Peters helped push through a highway authorization bill that allows public highways to be turned over to private companies for maintenance and toll collection. She has also advocated time-of-day pricing at tollbooths and construction of roads by private firms.

Keep an eye on this one. The idea of turning our highway system over to corporate entities for profit is not a comforting thought. I wonder if we'd have corporate sponsorships as well. Imagine the new and improved driving directions from point A to point B:

Take the GM Expressway north for 7 miles, exit right onto the eastbound Intel Expressway for 3 miles, then take the exit onto the northbound AT&T for 4 miles. Toll: $7.00.

That's one way to reduce traffic congestion.