According to a report released by University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs, the nation will not be able to continue to compete economically with the rest of the world without new ways to fund America's ailing transportation system. The report is co-authored by former Transportation secretaries Sam Skinner and Norman Mineta and is the result of a three-day conference in September 2009 that included about 80 transportation experts. The report, "Well Within Reach: America's New Transportation Agenda," highlights 10 recommendations on how to improve America's roads and bridges. The group estimated that an additional $134 billion to $262 billion must be spent per year through 2035 to rebuild and improve roads, rail systems and air transportation.
The report also urged the United States to rethink how it funds transportation improvements, most notably moving away from a reliance on gasoline taxes. In releasing the report both Mineta and Skinner stressed that Congress must consider introducing a vehicle miles traveled fee to replace the current gas tax, which they described as becoming obsolete. Under this concept, drivers would pay a user based on distance traveled replacing th gas tax user fee which is bringing in less money as cars become more fuel efficient and are powered by alternative fuels. Both Mineta and Skinner participated in today’s White House conference.