As Congress Extend Current Transportation Law Another Six Weeks, Reform Becomes Ever More Urgent
October 30, 2009By Stephen Lee Davis
| CONTACT: |
| Cosabeth Bullock 202-478-6128 |
| cbullock@mrss.com |
| Paula Chrin 202-478-6138 |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congress this week again postponed action on the overdue rewrite of the federal transportation law, passing a continuing resolution set to expire on December 18. In response to this action, Transportation for America Director James Corless released the following statement:
“Congress has once again let a key deadline pass without tackling serious reform of America’s transportation system. With crumbling bridges and continuing traffic gridlock, communities across America cannot wait much longer for a new transportation bill.”
“In recent weeks several proposals have been advanced to fund infrastructure to assist with job creation. While Transportation forAmerica strongly believes that transportation investment is good for the economy, national investments must be coupled with real reform that expands transportation options, spends money more wisely and fixes existing infrastructure. Our large and diverse coalition cannot support spending more taxpayer money under the current federal system of outdated priorities and broken processes.”
“We commend House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar for keeping transportation reform on the front-burner. He has laid out a responsible path toward reform and Congress ought to follow his lead and pass a long-term federal transportation bill that establishes a new vision for a 21st century transportation program that is smarter, cleaner and safer.”
What’s the impact of the Highway Trust Fund patch or an extension of the current bill?
July 30, 2009By Lilly Shoup
UPDATED 7/30: The Senate passed the $7 billion patch late this afternoon by a 79-17 vote. All 4 amendments failed, so the identical bill has been approved by both chambers and now heads to President Obama’s desk for signature.
With the House passing a $7 billion patch for the Highway Trust Fund yesterday afternoon to keep it from running out of money before September, we thought it might be useful to post a brief Q&A about the trust fund patch and how the full six-year transportation authorization bill could be affected. The $7 billion patch now moves to the Senate for a vote, probably this afternoon, before reaching President Obama’s desk. The Highway Trust Fund (HTF) provides funds for the federal portion of transportation projects.
If the patch is approved by the Senate, Congress will then be is now facing a much bigger decision before the current transportation bill expires on September 30th: pass a new six-year transportation bill, or pass a short- or long-term extension of SAFETEA-LU, the existing transportation bill.
What is the short-term patch and who supports it?
The short-term patch would repair the trust fund insolvency through a $7 billion cash infusion into the HTF. The funds would be transferred from the General Fund before Congress goes on recess in August and would ensure that states can continue to obligate transportation funds through September 30th, 2009. The patch would address the funding shortfall due to declining gas tax revenues that are no longer sufficient to cover the federal portion of transportation projects.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar supported this option and testified before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on July 23rd asking for the $3 billion patch. (That patch has since been increased to $7 billion to match the Senate’s preferred amount.)
How does this relate to the upcoming expiration of SAFETEA-LU on September 30th?
With this cash infusion Congress could continue to focus on pushing the authorization of a new 6-year surface transportation bill this September. The original $3 billion figure was based on recent estimates made by DOT but both the White House and DOT officials have expressed concern that $5-7 billion is a more accurate figure needed to keep the HTF solvent through September. (The House passed a $7 billion patch.)
What is the extension and who supports it?
An extension would continue SAFETEA-LU policies and funding guarantees for a specified amount of time to allow Congress and the Administration to continue working on a full 6-year comprehensive bill. A proposed 18-month extension would extend SAFETEA-LU to March 2011. Numerous Senators have stated their preference for an 18-month extension, which is also currently supported by the White House. On July 23rd the Senate Banking Committee became the third Senate committee to approve an 18-month extension bill. Congress is also considering the possibility of a short-term extension of 3, 6, or 12 months in lieu of a longer-term extension.
How would the extension be funded and how does it address the near-term shortfall in HTF funds?
An extension of SAFETEA-LU for any length of time would be paid through gas taxes and a possible General Fund infusion. (More funding from some source would certainly be required, as gas taxes do not cover the current funding levels.)
The Senate Financing Committee Chairman Max Baucus released a funding proposal (S. 1474) on July 21st that would maintain the HTF’s solvency throughout an 18-month extension. This provision will transfer $26.8 billion from the General Fund to transportation ($22 billion to HTF, $4.8 billion to the mass transit account). The fund transfer will begin in time to provide near-term funding (through August) before HTF reaches insolvency.
Any questions? Ask away in the comments and we’ll try to answer.
Administration releases their principles for an 18-month transportation bill
July 1, 2009By Stephen Lee Davis
When DOT Secretary LaHood was on Capitol Hill a few weeks ago discussing the Obama Administration’s plan for a transitional transportation bill, he mentioned that their plan for an 18-month extension would “enact critical reforms” while stopping short of a fundamental overhaul of the program — leaving that for the full six-year bill.
A lot of transportation advocates were left wondering what sort of reforms the administration would propose. Today we got a first look at their general proposal (via Transportation Weekly.) Update: Elana Schor @ Streetsblog has the details on the National Infrastructure Bank.
As you may remember, Chairman James Oberstar and his House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are at odds over the timing of the authorization bill. Oberstar and company want to pass a full six-year authorization bill by September, while the Administration favors an 18-month transitional bill to patch the soon-to-be insolvent Highway Trust Fund.
At the forefront of the administration proposal is a $20 billion transfer from the general fund to keep the Highway and Mass Transit Accounts in the Highway Trust Fund from going bankrupt, keeping them solvent until March 2011. They propose to return the money to the general fund over 10 years.
In a section titled “Downpayment on Reform,” the administration outlines three proposals, including $310 million to help states and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) voluntarily improve their project evaluation process, helping them choose worthy projects based on data , preparing them “for improved accountability standards and merit criteria in the long-term reauthorization.”
The second proposal would provide $10 million for “USDOT to develop performance goals and establish guidelines for states and localities on project evaluation.” And in language that sounds similar to the stimulus spending, the third proposal aims to improve the transparency and accountability in transportation spending, to “lay the groundwork for further accountability reforms in the long-term reauthorization.”
Lastly is a section on livable communities and improving regional access:
Livability: developing guidelines for community plans and providing funding for approved projects with special emphasis on convenience of transportation options, reductions in travel times, smart growth, preservation of open space, and more integrated responses to land use and transportation needs.
Chairman Oberstar is still opposed to any extension and it’s worth noting that any 18-month proposal would have to pass through his committee in the House. Read the full memo to Congress below.
(Continue Reading)
Today’s Headlines — 06/25/09
June 25, 2009By Andrew Bielak
- Paratransit — which is used to provide critical transportation service for people with disabilities — faces severe funding challenges in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune)
- DC’s Metro tragedy makes clear the need for repair work on America’s aging rail system. (New York Times)
- Some city officials say the distribution of stimulus funds favors small towns and rural areas. (Los Angeles Times)
- Representative John Mica, the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, discusses the new transportation bill. (PBS)
Transportation bill being considered: Join us for a national call-in day today
June 24, 2009By Stephen Lee Davis
| We need you to make one call to Congress and ensure that transportation spending delivers. Click here for details on making a call. |
| Or just call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and tell your Representative to support the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009. (HR 2724) |
As we post this, Chairman James Oberstar’s transportation bill draft is being “marked up” in a House subcommittee. As that committee works on the bill and news about the bill is fresh in the minds of House members, we are organizing a national call-in day today to make sure that Congress gets our message loud and clear:
No new money without reforming the system.
Can you help out by calling your Representative today? It will make a real difference, and it only takes about one minute. Information on how to call at right or bottom, or click here
The draft bill has a lot of what Transportation for America, our coalition, and our many supporters have been pushing for, but today, it still falls short. As it stands today, it leaves out something crucial: Clear national priorities for what $450 billion in transportation spending will achieve.
Without over-arching goals and targets — like lower energy consumption, reduced emissions, greater affordability, or expanded access to transportation choices for all Americans — there’s no way to be sure billions of dollars in transportation spending will truly deliver clean, safe and smart transportation. We can definitely do better. We can’t keep pouring our precious tax dollars into the same old flawed transportation system that leaves us stuck without options.
Help us get a real plan that delivers. Call your member of Congress today:
- Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to your representative’s office.
- Tell the staff member answering the phone where you’re calling from, and that you’d like to urge the representative to support the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009 (H.R. 2724). You can add:
- You are a constituent and a supporter of the Transportation for America coalition.
- You want to make sure the billions spent on transportation help us cut down on emissions, give us real energy security, and provide us with more affordable options for getting from A to B.
- No new money for transportation without reforming the system and making it accountable and measurable.
- Then let us know you made the call
Tell Congress: No new transportation money without reform
June 22, 2009By Stephen Lee Davis
| We can’t afford to keep throwing money at transportation agencies unable to show progress on the issues that matter to us all: Affordable ways to get around; alternatives to congestion; reducing our oil dependency; protecting the climate; safe and vibrant communities and access to jobs. |
| Tell your representative to make a stand: no more money without real reform! |
Capitol Hill is buzzing with the news. As you may have heard, Chairman James Oberstar and his House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released the full 775-page transportation bill earlier this afternoon. Rep. Oberstar is poised to get his six-year bill moving this week, and the Obama administration is pushing Congress to pass a (shorter) funding plan quickly. Why the rush?
Because transportation funding is running out.
But we can’t afford to keep throwing money at transportation agencies unable to show progress on the issues that matter to us all: Affordable ways to get around; alternatives to congestion; reducing our oil dependency; protecting the climate; safe and vibrant communities and access to jobs.
Help us tell Congress: No new money for transportation without a real, sustainable plan.
As you may have read here or elsewhere, The National Highway Trust Fund — which pays for road work, bike and pedestrian facilities and transit projects — will run out of money in August.
With funds drying up, the pressure to throw more money at our problems is growing. Some in Congress are poised to take money from other needs to prop up the trust fund, which comes from gas taxes. They would prefer to go on spending our tax dollars without a real plan. But more money with no strings attached is not the answer.
The U.S. hasn’t had a vision for transportation policy in decades. We’ve been trying to build our way out of a congested and inefficient system with no accountability and no actual plan to link our roads, trains, buses, bikeways and pedestrian-friendly streets.
The result? Longer, more frustrating, less safe and increasingly expensive commutes for all of us.
But now we have an opportunity for change. We must ensure that our country’s transportation investments strengthen our economy, our environment and our health. Don’t let Congress make the same mistakes it’s made in the past. We must fund transportation, but we must do it right this time.
Chairman releases full transportation bill text
June 22, 2009By Stephen Lee Davis
Chairman Jim Oberstar and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have released the full 775-page transportation bill text. Download it here. (pdf) Check back here for details over the coming week.
Today’s Headlines — 06/22/09
June 22, 2009By Andrew Bielak
- By living closer to jobs and school, city dwellers cut down on carbon emissions. (Chicago Sun-Times)
- Health researchers note that obesity and climate change have many of the same roots — including an auto-dependent lifestyle. (Grist)
- The unpredictable nature of climate change could have dangerous effects on our transportation system. (ClimateBiz)
Today’s Headlines — 06/18/09
June 18, 2009By Andrew Bielak
- The Economist looks ahead at the transportation bill and talks to T4 America Campaign Director James Corless.
- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asks for an 18-month extension on the current transportation bill, as Rep. James Oberstar releases an outline of a new one. (Wall Street Journal)
- Streetsblog breaks down Oberstar’s outline.
- A new study shows that sidewalks encourage walking and make us healthier.
The full outline from Oberstar
June 18, 2009By Andrew Bielak
| Full Transportation Bill Outline (.PDF) |
For those readers brave enough to wade into 90 pages of policy detail, we know have Rep. James Oberstar’s full outline proposal for the next transportation bill. At a press conference to discuss the release this afternoon, John Mica, the Republican Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said that the bill will be “the most critical jobs bill before congress in the next year,” with Oberstar adding that there is “bipartisan unanimity to move ahead in the public interest.”
As we continue to read through these 90 pages, we’ll keep offering some thoughts on various pieces of the proposal and how they could impact the future of our transportation system.
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- Transit grants out the federal door, but what about the cuts?
March 8, 2010 - Transit riders in Atlanta face massive cuts, “wholesale restructuring” of service
March 5, 2010 - Opposition to Senate extension results in looming shutdown of federal transportation programs
February 26, 2010 - T4 jobs proposal would create nearly half a million jobs, according to Economic Policy Institute
February 17, 2010 - Obama’s 2011 budget gives a lift to livability and transportation
February 2, 2010
- Transit grants out the federal door, but what about the cuts?
The United States of Transit Cutbacks
Driving is down and transit ridership is at record highs. Yet transit agencies across the country are considering layoffs, service cuts and fare hikes. Find out more and learn what you can do to help at t4america.org/transitcuts
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