APA National Infrastructure Investment Task Force
2009 Transportation Authorization Blueprint Released
U.S. House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN), Ranking Member John Mica (R-FL), Highway and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Ranking Member John Duncan (R-TN) have released a white paper, entitled “A Blueprint for Investment and Reform,” which outlines plans for a major overhaul of federal surface transportation programs. The new six-year reauthorization for highway and transit programs will include a 38 percent spending increase over the current program. It will focus on consolidation and streamlining of existing programs, as well as establishing performance and outcome-based targets and funding distribution formulas. The actual bill language is schedule to be released early during the week of June 22.
The new Surface Transportation Authorization Act proposes spending $450 billion over six years, including $337.4 billion for the highway program, $99.8 billion for public transportation, and $12.6 billion for highway and motor carrier safety. The plan also proposes to fund $50 billion for a Metropolitan Mobility and Access Program and $25 billion for Projects of National Significance from the same $450 billion pot. The proposal does not address where increased revenues will come from to finance the program. The House Committee on Ways & Means will develop the financing piece of the legislation at a later date.
The plan also consolidates the majority of highway and transit funding into four core formula categories: Repair & investment; Highway Safety; Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ); and the Surface Transportation Program (STP). Among the policies outlined is a requirement for states to develop six-year transportation plans with performance benchmarks in exchange for greater flexibility in how they spend federal funds.
Below are some of the highlights from the House Blueprint:
• Creates a National Transportation Strategic Plan, based on long-range highway, transit, and rail plans developed by States and metropolitan regions, to develop intermodal connectivity of the nation’s transportation system and identify projects of national significance
• Reforms the U.S. Department of Transportation to require intermodal planning and decision-making; ensure that projects are planned and completed in a timely manner; and ensure that DOT programs advance the livability of communities
• Requires States and local governments to establish transportation plans with specific performance standards; measure their progress annually in meeting these standards; and periodically adjust their plans as necessary to achieve specific objectives
• Creates a National Infrastructure Bank
• Provides $50 billion over six years to develop 11 authorized high-speed rail corridors linking major metropolitan regions in the United States
• Creates an Office of Expedited Project Delivery to monitor progress of projects in an effort to prevent them from getting bogged down by lengthy review
• Creates an Undersecretary of Intermodalism that would ensure that agencies responsible for different transportation modes — including highway, rail and transit — work together
• Creates an Office of Livability that would work to ensure that transportation projects are linked to housing and business development
• Allows for the suballocation of STP, CMAQ and transportation enhancement funding to large metropolitan regions, while loosening restrictions on those funds to allow metropolitan regions to use those funds as easily as States
• Includes a Complete Streets provision that would require States and metropolitan regions to consider comprehensive street design principles, and adopt policies that take into account the needs of all users
• Links transportation planning process with national goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that would be set out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; requires States and metropolitan regions to develop their own emission reduction targets that support the established national goal
• Expands the scope of the planning processes to require consideration of sustainability, connectivity, and livability; reduction of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, and the impacts of climate change
The release of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s white paper came just a day after the Obama Administration called for an 18-month extension to the current transportation law. The Administration has said that more time is needed to develop a comprehensive replacement, but Congress has had a mixed reaction to the proposal. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer expressed support for an extension, indicating it would provide more time to craft a comprehensive bill that provides “stable and reliable” sources of funding. Leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have voiced a strong opposition to an extension in any form, stating that they planned to mark up their reauthorization bill on June 24th.
A detailed, section-by-section summary is being prepared on the provisions included in “A Blueprint for Investment and Reform”. It will be posted soon. For more information, please contact govtaffairs@planning.org.
The new Surface Transportation Authorization Act proposes spending $450 billion over six years, including $337.4 billion for the highway program, $99.8 billion for public transportation, and $12.6 billion for highway and motor carrier safety. The plan also proposes to fund $50 billion for a Metropolitan Mobility and Access Program and $25 billion for Projects of National Significance from the same $450 billion pot. The proposal does not address where increased revenues will come from to finance the program. The House Committee on Ways & Means will develop the financing piece of the legislation at a later date.
The plan also consolidates the majority of highway and transit funding into four core formula categories: Repair & investment; Highway Safety; Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ); and the Surface Transportation Program (STP). Among the policies outlined is a requirement for states to develop six-year transportation plans with performance benchmarks in exchange for greater flexibility in how they spend federal funds.
Below are some of the highlights from the House Blueprint:
• Creates a National Transportation Strategic Plan, based on long-range highway, transit, and rail plans developed by States and metropolitan regions, to develop intermodal connectivity of the nation’s transportation system and identify projects of national significance
• Reforms the U.S. Department of Transportation to require intermodal planning and decision-making; ensure that projects are planned and completed in a timely manner; and ensure that DOT programs advance the livability of communities
• Requires States and local governments to establish transportation plans with specific performance standards; measure their progress annually in meeting these standards; and periodically adjust their plans as necessary to achieve specific objectives
• Creates a National Infrastructure Bank
• Provides $50 billion over six years to develop 11 authorized high-speed rail corridors linking major metropolitan regions in the United States
• Creates an Office of Expedited Project Delivery to monitor progress of projects in an effort to prevent them from getting bogged down by lengthy review
• Creates an Undersecretary of Intermodalism that would ensure that agencies responsible for different transportation modes — including highway, rail and transit — work together
• Creates an Office of Livability that would work to ensure that transportation projects are linked to housing and business development
• Allows for the suballocation of STP, CMAQ and transportation enhancement funding to large metropolitan regions, while loosening restrictions on those funds to allow metropolitan regions to use those funds as easily as States
• Includes a Complete Streets provision that would require States and metropolitan regions to consider comprehensive street design principles, and adopt policies that take into account the needs of all users
• Links transportation planning process with national goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that would be set out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; requires States and metropolitan regions to develop their own emission reduction targets that support the established national goal
• Expands the scope of the planning processes to require consideration of sustainability, connectivity, and livability; reduction of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, and the impacts of climate change
The release of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s white paper came just a day after the Obama Administration called for an 18-month extension to the current transportation law. The Administration has said that more time is needed to develop a comprehensive replacement, but Congress has had a mixed reaction to the proposal. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer expressed support for an extension, indicating it would provide more time to craft a comprehensive bill that provides “stable and reliable” sources of funding. Leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have voiced a strong opposition to an extension in any form, stating that they planned to mark up their reauthorization bill on June 24th.
A detailed, section-by-section summary is being prepared on the provisions included in “A Blueprint for Investment and Reform”. It will be posted soon. For more information, please contact govtaffairs@planning.org.
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