Bipartisan Senate Transportation Bill Introduced, Mark Up on Nov 9
On November 7, 2011, Senator Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee and three co-sponsors1 introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the nation's transportation programs for two years (S. 1813, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21)).
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Committee Mark Up on Nov 9, Current Authorization Expires Mar 31, 2012
The Environment and Public Works Committee has scheduled a mark-up of S. 1813 for November 9, 2011.
(The current surface transportation authorization expires on March 31, 2012. See ITT’s Online Archives 11091901 for BP summary announcing enactment of the extension through March 31, 2012.)
New Core Program Would Focus on Freight Transportation
S. 1813 would create a new core program called the “National Freight Network Program,” which would improve goods movement by consolidating existing programs into a new focused freight program that provides funds to the states by formula for projects to improve regional and national freight movements on highways, including freight intermodal connectors.
S. 1813 Would Also Consolidate Programs, Fund R&D, Etc.
According to a Committee summary, S. 1813 would also:
- consolidate the number of Federal programs by two-thirds, from about 90 programs down to less than 30, to focus resources on key national goals and reduce duplicative programs;
- create a new title called “America Fast Forward,” which strengthens the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program (TIFIA) program to leverage federal dollars further than they have been stretched before; and
- fund research and development, technology deployment, training and education, intelligent transportation system (ITS), and university transportation center activities to further innovation in transportation research. The primary research areas include: improving highway safety and infrastructure integrity; strengthening transportation planning and environmental decision-making; reducing congestion, improving highway operations; and enhancing freight productivity.
Senate Recently Defeated Two Transportation Jobs Bills
On November 3, 2011, Senators blocked consideration in the Senate of two transportation jobs bills. The Senate rejected motions to proceed with the Rebuild America Jobs Act (S. 1769, a Democratic/White House proposal) and the Long-Term Surface Transportation Extension Act (S. 1786, a Republican proposal).
1Senators Inhoffe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee, Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Vitter (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee.
Committee press release with links to bill text and summary available here.