Highway Users Form Coalition

Highway Users Form Coalition to Oppose Privatization of Toll Roads

Group Says Government Must Be Held Accountable for Financing

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Trucking
Associations, in conjunction with the American Automobile Association, the
American Highway Users Alliance, the National Association of Truck Stop
Operators, the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, and the
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association today announced the
formation of a coalition of highway user groups to combat the growing trend
toward the privatization or leasing of existing toll facilities to private
investors.

Known as "Americans for a Strong National Highway Network," the
coalition is designed to advance the rights of American motorists to travel
on safe, reliable public roads; maintain a robust national highway network
for the efficient transport of goods and the military; and to hold
government accountable for ensuring financing is transparent, motivated by
public good, and dedicated to transportation purposes.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at the National
Press Club.

"The sale or lease of existing toll facilities generates revenue at
great expense to taxpayers and the trucking industry and carries potential
negative impacts on highway safety, security and the motoring public," said
ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "We must consider the long-term impact
privatization will have on our nation's transportation system and explore
all available financing options to ensure that the government is motivated
by public good and transportation purposes."

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on
Highways and Transit, stated, "For the Bush administration, the rush to
promote public-private partnerships is based in ideology, not a critical
evaluation of how public-private partnerships might help meet the goal of
an improved, integrated national transportation system and further the
public interest."

ATA strongly opposes the lease or sale of existing toll roads, bridges
or tunnels to private parties, and has called upon the government to
abandon these financing techniques.

The trucking industry supports the objective of a toll-free national
highway system where funds to finance highway improvements primarily come
from highway user fees, such as the fuel tax.

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade
association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other
trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state
trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering
every type of motor carrier in the United States.

SOURCE American Trucking Associations