Iowa Transportation Commission members planning Washington trip

Members of the Iowa Transportation Commission will travel to Washington, D.C., Wednesday and Thursday, April 24 and 25, to meet with members of Iowa's congressional delegation and U.S. Department of Transportation officials.

Among the items that will be discussed are federal surface transportation programs and the annual and long-term funding outlook.

The Congressional Budget Office contends the federal Highway Trust Fund, which has been funded with an 18.4 cents-per-gallon tax, will run out of money in 2014 unless Congress finds additional funding.

Over the last 20 years, inflation and fuel-efficient automobiles have caused more money to be spent than what the highway trust takes in through the gas tax.

Other potential discussion topics include potential changes in federal transportation programs; federal, state and local roles in surface transportation programs; and non-highway methods of transportation, such as railroads and river barges.