Contact your representative – new administration talking points & transportation asks

With the new administration and transition, how do you approach your representative to push your existing projects forward and or seek funding for new projects? We have created a few talking points you can use when contacting your state representative. See our T4A member recommended talking points drafted for you.

New Administration Talking Points – Transportation Asks

IF INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you [insert representative title and name] for your work on Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to ensure long-term authorization of vital transportation programs.

IF NEWLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE: [Insert representative title and name], we congratulate you on your win and look forward to working with you in the new administration.

As a result of operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) through April 28, no funding provided under the short-term appropriations bill may be used to initiate or resume any project or activity for which funds were not available during FY2016. This means that there are no funds available for New Starts / Small Starts programs. In addition, the CR does not increase transportation funding to FAST Act authorized levels.

The CR’s lower level of funding overlaps with, and thus may impact, next year’s construction season. This overlap will especially impact regions where the construction season is already constrained due to seasonal weather.

Recently, we have also heard concerns that funding for the TIGER program may be targeted for funding cuts under the new administration. This program is a very high priority for local governments because it is extremely flexible and one of the only ways they can receive support from the Federal government for transportation priorities.

Highlight Your Transportation Project

Direct access to federal transportation funding is especially important for our community, because of our [insert project name].

As you know, this project is particularly important to our community, because [insert information about your transportation project, such as economic benefits, community support, improved access to jobs or education, etc.].

This project is currently at the stage of [insert information about how far along this project is; i.e. if it is in the pipeline for federal funding or if you are planning to apply to get federal funding].

Make the Link between Your Project & the Federal Funding Program

We appreciate your support for our community and know you understand the significance of [this project] for our region.

In order for our community to ensure the successful completion of this vital project, we need a federal funding partner. The [insert federal funding program, such as TIGER, New Starts, Small Starts, etc] program is one of the only avenues for us to get that necessary funding.

Congress no longer has the ability to earmark funds for specific projects. The transit and TIGER programs are the few programs that offer local communities a path to directly access federal funding support.

Without funding for these programs, how do we, as local communities, directly access federal dollars?

New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity are grouped under the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program under the FAST Act.