Almost 200 mayors of U.S. cities, members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), signed a letter to leaders of Congress—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-OH), and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)—calling for enactment of bipartisan transportation authorization legislation.

“Next year, cities and their metro areas will generate 90.4 percent of our Gross Domestic Product and 85.6 percent of the nation’s jobs. Our local areas are the engines of the U.S. economy, and investment in our future is an investment in the nation's future prosperity,” states the letter, signed by 188 U.S. mayors including USCM leaders.

Signatories also reiterated their strong opposition to a House Ways and Means Committee proposed bill that would have eliminated gas tax revenues going to public transportation:  “As mayors, we urge adoption of final bipartisan legislation that provides adequate funding, at least at current levels with an adjustment for inflation, to help us invest in needed transportation infrastructure and preserves the fundamental elements of current law. As such, this explains why we so strongly oppose the pending House proposal to redirect existing federal gas tax commitments away from public transportation, undermining years of bipartisan support in Congress for balanced investment in our nation's highway and transit systems.”

The mayors cautioned that—absent dedicated funding—many transportation projects would be halted and many jobs would be lost from inaction.  “There is a significant demand for major transportation now, at a time when construction is less costly and the resulting jobs are so urgently needed in our local and regional economies,” the mayors wrote. “The current extension expires March 31, and the Highway Trust Fund runs out of funds next year. If Congress does not address these challenges, the potential consequences for the nation could be devastating.”

They also emphasized their support for “innovative financing to help leverage limited federal resources with local, state, and private investment in rebuilding and expanding our transportation,” as well as public-private financing mechanisms.

“As mayors,” the letter concluded, “we believe it is crucial that bicameral, bipartisan surface transportation legislation move forward to help us accelerate the financing of highway and transit infrastructure, create well paying jobs and help get our economy back on track.”

The full text of the letter is available online.