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With the election past and Donald Trump returning to the White House, Politico this week offered a round-up of transportation-related projections for the upcoming Trump Presidency. Perhaps the most important is that “Trump will have another chance to write a big infrastructure bill during his term — the 2021 infrastructure law will need to be renewed by September 2026. The jockeying over what should go in the bill will kick off in earnest next year, presenting a ripe opportunity for the Trump administration to set its priorities.” What else does the Politico crystal ball predict? After talking to Republicans and staffers on Capitol Hill, here are some of the highlights: A refocus on hard infrastructure spending (roads, rails and bridges). Discretionary grant programs in the Department of Transportation will likely be restructured. Aides are watching for a greater focus on spending in rural communities; this means roadways, not rail. There might be attempts to define the federal government’s responsibilities for infrastructure, starting with easy targets like the Interstate Highway System or important navigation channels that play a role in international trade. If Trump returns to priorities from his last term, that could include streamlining environmental reviews, reducing the permitting process to two years and eliminating redundancies in environmental laws.
In an interview with Politico, outgoing Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), an outspoken opponent of the current infrastructure laws, opined on spending and what needs to be reined in. He panned the current law. His opinion may offer a window into the thoughts and goals of the new administration:
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