The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released details of reauthorization legislation, the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009, which was expected to be introduced by June 22. The legislation is a six-year $500 billion bill that will replace the current authorization, SAFETEA-LU, which is due to expire on Sept. 30.
The chairman of the committee, Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), has billed the legislation as a transformation in the way the federal government funds the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
“Action on a robust, reform-oriented multiyear reauthorization bill, as proposed by the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee leadership, is the only way to combat the combination of an economic downturn and increasing state budget difficulties,” said ARTBA President and CEO Pete Ruane. “As history shows, putting the federal transportation programs in limbo contributes to uncertainty at the state level and leads to overall market stagnation.”
The documents released include a blueprint for investment and reform, a framework of principles for federal surface transportation and an executive summary.
The blueprint of the legislation indicates a reduced number of programs but keeps most of the eligibility for them. It does not address any specifics on formula funding. The blueprint states that there would be project streamlining, but new environmental concerns exist, such as carbon reduction and livability. Finally, the plan would centralize national planning to include all transportation modes.
The Highways and Transit Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was planning a mark up of the legislation June 24, and has indicated that the process will be bipartisan.