OPINION:
Nations around the world, including our economic competitors, are making significant investments in transportation, especially mass transit. Congress needs to stop making transportation a partisan football that it kicks back and forth and instead make a real commitment to improving and expanding our transportation network — for everyone’s benefit.
Examples of the benefits of transportation investment can be found around the world. Japan’s modern economy was built with the help of high-speed train networks. The country has had high-speed rail since the 1960s, and the United States still has none.
India and China, too, are creating more opportunities for their citizens by improving mobility. With the leadership of India’s national government, every large city in that country is slated to have a subway, light-rail system or a bus rapid-transit network. Why can’t Congress be as ambitious on behalf of our nation?
It’s time for Congress to demonstrate that its members can work together on behalf of the American people and pass a long-term transportation bill that sets us on a path to match the mass-transit infrastructure of other nations.
E. FAYE WILLIAMS
Washington
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