Transportation Secretary visits Anniston

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx

 U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx visited Anniston Wednesday as part of  an eight-state tour by the secretary, highlighting manufacturers and projects affected by trust fund dollars..  Foxx said Wednesday that by September, the Federal Highway Trust Fund — now at around $8 billion — will be broke.  That would mean states would not receive federal dollars needed to maintain their transportation infrastructure forcing the halting road improvements and construction projects and forcing layoffs throughout the country. Foxx said about 20 percent of the trust fund goes to transit authorities throughout the country, and much of that money goes to pay for the buses such as the natural-gas powered vehicles produced at NABI’s Anniston facility.  Wayne Joseph, executive vice president of operations for NABI’s parent company New Flyer, said NABI employs about 3,200 people — 700 at the Anniston facility — and it has around 40,000 buses currently in operation.  In addition to natural-gas powered transit vehicles, NABI also produces hybrid and electric buses. Replenishing the trust fund is part of the Obama administration’s four-year, $302 billion transportation proposal. White House officials say much of the money could come from the president’s plan to cut corporate tax loopholes. According to a report from the Department of Transportation, Obama’s proposal would give the agency $90.9 billion for the 2015 fiscal year.Foxx told the NABI workers to contact their senators and congressmen and make sure they “understand how Anniston, Ala., is being affected by the country’s investment in infrastructure.”