House Transportation Committee Chair John Mica announced more information about the upcoming hearings and public forums around the country. One of the meetings will occur in Vancouver during the Feb. 21-23 period. The first meeting occurs on February 14 in West Virginia. From the committee news release:

"The nationwide meetings with state and local officials and transportation stakeholders will help inform the Committee’s drafting of a long-term reauthorization of the nation’s highway, transit, and highway safety programs. The legislation will help improve our transportation infrastructure and promote job creation in the nation’s hard-hit construction industry.

The Committee will seek input on how to consolidate and improve the performance of programs, cut government red tape and streamline the project delivery process, increase private sector investment in our infrastructure, identify creative financing alternatives, and other ideas for writing the legislation. The previous multi-year law (SAFETEA- LU) expired in September 2009.

“The best ideas to improve and streamline government programs often come from outside of Washington, and before we draft any legislation these meetings will provide the Committee with valuable insight and information,” Mica said.

Chairman Mica, Members of the Committee and other lawmakers will participate in the hearings and meetings, which will begin on February 14, 2011 in West Virginia, home state of the Committee’s Ranking Democrat Member Nick J. Rahall. At least a dozen other sessions across numerous states are currently planned for February 17-25, including a joint House-Senate hearing in Los Angeles in cooperation with Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. (Further details regarding meetings will be announced at a later date.)

The Committee will travel to the following communities to gather information for the transportation reauthorization bill:

Beckley, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Philadelphia Metropolitan area
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Rochester, New York
Columbus, Ohio
Indianapolis, Indiana
Chicago Metropolitan area
Vancouver, Washington
Fresno, California
Los Angeles
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Memphis Metropolitan area