Central Florida Congressional hearing on major transportation bill

House Transportation Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.) on March 14 will conduct a Congressional field hearing in Central Florida on pending major transportation legislation. This will be the only scheduled field hearing in Florida on the transportation bill.

The Committee is conducting an extensive series of meetings across the country with state and local officials and transportation stakeholders in order to gather information and innovative ideas for drafting a long-term reauthorization of the nation’s highway, transit, and highway safety programs.

Specifically, the Committee is seeking input on how to consolidate and improve the performance of programs, cut government red tape and streamline the delivery of projects, and increase private sector investment in our infrastructure. This pending legislation will help improve our infrastructure and promote job creation in Central Florida and the United States, particularly in the hard-hit construction industry.

The Committee hearing is also expected to focus on transportation project failures and how to address the issue.

“The best ideas to improve and streamline government programs often come from outside of Washington, and hearings in Florida and across the nation will provide the Committee with valuable insight and ideas as the Committee drafts the next major transportation bill,” Mica said.

The field hearing is open to public and press. Mica and members of the Committee will be available to answer questions from the media immediately following the hearing.

WHAT: Congressional Field Hearing on Pending Major Transportation Legislation,

Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.)

Ranking Democrat Nick J. Rahall (D-W.V.)

Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.)

Other members of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

WHEN: 9:30 a.m., Monday, March 14, 2011

WHERE: Maitland Civic Center, 641 South Maitland Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751

WITNESSES:

  • The Honorable Frank Bruno, County Chair, County of Volusia
  • Ananth Prasad, Assistant Secretary for Engineering and Operations, Florida Department of Transportation
  • Bob Burleson, President, Florida Transportation Builders Association
  • Randy Whitfield, Staff Director, Palm Beach MPO
  • Geoffrey Yarema, Partner, Nossaman Guthner Knox Elliot, LLP
  • Richard P. Lawless, President and CEO, U.S.-Japan High-Speed Rail
  • Additional witnesses may be added.