NextGen Included in U.S. Infrastructure Plans

Airport upgrades and the Next Generation Air Traffic System are part of the Obama Administration’s plans to invest more than $50 billion in the U.S.’s transportation infrastructure in the next year, the first installment of a six-year transportation strategy that includes creating an “infrastructure bank.” White House officials said the cost will be offset by raising taxes on oil and gas companies. While much of the President’s proposal focuses on surface transportation–including high-speed rail–he promised “robust” investment in ATC modernization. Obama said the plan will “restore 150 miles of runways” and “advance a next-generation air traffic control system to reduce travel time and delays for American travelers.”