Technology Creating a Turning Point for U.S. Transportation Infrastructure

(TNS) -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx visited Pittsburgh on Wednesday to view cutting-edge technology at one of the world’s epicenters of it, Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center in Lawrenceville. He saw high-beam headlights that direct a dark spot toward the eyes of oncoming drivers to reduce glare, while continuing to illuminate everything else; headlights that sense falling snowflakes and direct the beam between the flakes rather than on them to improve visibility; a snow plow that projects an image on the windshield of the road when it was not snowing, to give drivers awareness of snow-covered obstacles and lane markings.

But to get here, Mr. Foxx had to travel on potholed and cracked roads that snap a driver’s mind from dreams of the future to the horse-and-buggy era.

The condition of the nation’s transportation infrastructure “should be an outrage to every American,” he said.

Congress has passed 32 short-term extensions of transportation funding authorizations in the past six years, and appears likely to approve No. 33 when the current law expires in May, he said.

“How can you plan, as a researcher or a civil engineer in a transportation department, if you don’t have long-term certainty” about funding, he asked. “I think the American people are going to have to say at some point, ‘This is enough. We can’t keep driving on these potholes.’”

The Obama administration has proposed a $478 billion, six-year transportation bill called the Grow America Act that would increase overall spending on roads, bridges, transit and other modes by 45 percent. It would draw much of its funding by taxing up to $2 trillion in profits that U.S. companies have stashed overseas. It has gotten a chilly reception in Congress.

There have been signs of progress in recent months toward a long-term bill, Mr. Foxx said. “It’s going to take bipartisan support and cooperation. That’s been difficult over the last several years.”

After touring the facility, he told the audience: “I’ve seen some amazing research, amazing technology and amazing minds that are wrapping their heads around the transportation challenges of the 21st century.” With technology on the verge of taking over tasks — including driving — currently done by humans, “this is a watershed moment in transportation,” he said.

“We see incredible opportunities and also incredible challenges,” he said, noting that the nation’s population is expected to grow by 70 million in the next 30 years, freight traffic is projected to increase 45 percent and climate change could leave some airports underwater.

©2015 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.