President's Message

Get There Your Way

As Congress considers major transportation funding legislation this year, AAA is working to ensure its members can get where they want to go, how they want to go, through AAA's Get There America campaign. Part of the campaign includes backing the transportation bill being considered by Congress—called the TEA-21 reauthorization—which AAA believes must continue to support a dynamic transportation system.

What makes up a dynamic transportation system?

America's transportation needs are nearly as diverse as Americans themselves. In many urban and suburban communities, public transit is an important and viable transportation solution. In rural areas, automobiles may be the only transportation option. The same people who use public transit to get to work rely on their automobiles to keep up with many activities after work and on weekends.

Not surprisingly, the nation's economic health is directly tied to transportation. We need common sense solutions that meet local needs, not mandates that arbitrarily dictate or limit transportation choices for communities and people living in them.

AAA believes we must integrate all types of transportation into a complementary system. Because people choose the mode of transportation that meets their needs, there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution. Whether you travel by car or public transit, both are complementary parts of an integrated transportation system.

Additionally, roads are not just essential to automobiles. Buses represent the majority of public transit, so good roads are essential for moving mass transit. This means that while investing in public transportation is important, it's just as important to recognize how critical properly built and maintained highways are for urban and suburban areas, as well as for the roads that connect the vast stretches of rural America.

AAA also realizes there are environmental consequences to every transportation decision, and believes transportation and environmental stewardship can be complementary goals. Motorists should do their part to minimize the impact of automobile use on the environment. Manufacturers and mechanics can also do their part to design and maintain environmentally friendly vehicles.

Congress needs to continue to invest in a transportation system that ensures the level of safety and mobility required by the traveling public. AAA wants you to be able to get there your way. And that's the message we will give Congress.

Tony DeNovellis
President and CEO

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