The annual levels of federal highway and transit spending required to meet the "need to maintain" level under the Financing Commission's Base Case Scenario are $59 billion and $19 billion, respectively, for a total of $78 billion. Estimated average annual revenues under current law generate approximately $32 billion, resulting in an annual revenue gap of $46 billion (in 2008 dollars).

The annual level of federal highway and transit spending required to meet the "need to improve" level under the Base Case Scenario climbs to $74 billion and $22 billion, respectively, for a total of $96 billion. This translates into an annual revenue gap of $64 billion (in 2008 dollars).

The federal government has wide-ranging goals for the surface transportation system and plays a critical leadership role in ensuring that these goals are adequately met.

The Commission recognizes the federal government has a critically important role in the national transportation system, promoting several goals, including safety, economic opportunity and access to transportation for all regions of the country, better air quality and environmental stewardship, effective freight movement, increased economic efficiency, fairness for both direct and indirect beneficiaries of the national transportation system, and development and widespread adoption of innovative approaches to providing cost-effective transportation solutions, including new technology. These considerations guided the Commission's deliberations