Washington, D.C. – With days left before current federal highway authorizations expire, the House unanimously passed legislation today to temporarily extend existing federal transportation programs through November 20, 2015, and prevent a shutdown of U.S. rail transportation by delaying the implementation deadline of Positive Train Control (PTC) technology.
“Positive Train Control has been a significant challenge for the entire railroad industry, but particularly difficult for the Alaska Railroad given our state’s current fiscal climate,” said Congressman Don Young. “For years we’ve heard that the exorbitant costs associated with implementing this system, coupled with untested rail technologies, would make it nearly impossible to meet the fast approaching deadline of PTC implementation. Today’s three year extension, which we fully expect to be signed into law, alleviates some of the pressures placed upon railroad systems nationwide. Without this extension, railroads across the country have made it clear they would be forced to shut down passenger and freight service to avoid stiff federal fines.”
The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015 (H.R. 3819) gives Congress three weeks to resolve differences between competing House and Senate multi-year highway packages, while ensuring federal and state transportation departments can continue to plan and deliver vital transportation projects.
Last week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously passed H.R. 3763, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRR Act), a bipartisan six-year surface transportation bill to reauthorize and improve federal transit, highway, and safety programs. The bill makes a number of reforms, including: consolidating duplicative transportation programs, refocusing funding on national priorities, improving efficiency through permitting streamlining, and ensuring a strong focus on safety.
“As a former Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the author of the last long-term highway bill, I have always worked to provide robust transportation and infrastructure investments for the Alaskan people,” said Congressman Don Young. “Improved and predictable federal investment in our roads, railways, and bridges must occur in order for us to effectively compete in a global marketplace. I’m pleased to see the STRR Act build upon some of the successes of SAFETEA-LU and remain committed to defending Alaska’s transportation infrastructure needs during the conference process with the Senate.”
H.R. 3763, expected to be considered by the full House in November, contains numerous Alaska focused provisions championed by Congressmen Young in his senior role on the House T&I Committee, including:
- $31 million annually for the Alaska Railroad through revisions to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), a $4 million increase from previously enacted levels;
- $210 million increase above current levels to the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) over the next six years;
- $67 million annually for the National Ferry Program for ferries and terminals, maintaining currently enacted funding levels;
- A 1% reduction in administrative fees by the Bureau of Indian Affairs/ Federal Highway Administration;
- Establishes the Tribal Self-Governance Program within USDOT;
- Reauthorizes the popular Recreational Trails Program (RTP).
Overall, the bill would institute several important reforms including:
- Converts the Surface Transportation Program (STP) to a block grant, giving state and local governments maximum flexibility;
- Refocuses existing funding to create a National Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program funded at $4.5 billion through FY21;
- Provides flexibility for states to invest in the nation’s bridges by expanding funding for bridges off the National Highway System;
- Eliminates or consolidates at least six separate offices within the DOT that perform duplicative functions, and establishes a National Surface transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau to help state, local, and private sector partners with transportation projects;
- Increases the focus of funding for roadway safety infrastructure and on the safety needs of rural roads;
- Provides a competitive grant option to address bus and bus facility needs.
Click here for more information on the STRR Act.
###
