A bi-partisan group of Senators has introduced a longer term transportation authorization bill. The group includes the ranking members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif), and James Inhofe (R-OK) along with the ranking members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA).
The legislation, known as "MAP-21" (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century) maintains funding at current levels, includes reforms to transportation programs in a effort to make them more efficient, provides assistance for transportation projects under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovatio Act (TIFIA) program to help leverarge state, local, and private sector funding.
In order to maintain current levels, a additional $12 billion in revenue will need to be raised. If it is not, the bill will contain language lowering the overall funding level.
The bill also makes significant changes to key programs that are a important source of funding to local communities looking to help alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety, and get people active. Specifically, the bill would consolidate the Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails programs and cut funding from the current $1.15 billion combined for the three programs to $833 million.
These programs would now be considered "eligible uses" under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ). States could or could not use the funds for such uses and they'd be able to opt-out of using federal funds for bike or pedestrian uses altogether.
Here is a good summary of the proposal from our national partners at Transportation for America, as well as a committee summary from the sponsors. The Senate Environment and Public Works committee will begin its mark-up of the bill on Wednesday, November 9th.
Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairr. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.
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