TRANSIT 568-3960
5311 non-urban reimbursment request
Federal Affairs Update
December 28, 2009
THUD Appropriations & SAFETEA-LU Extension
The month of December was an active one for the Congress and President Obama as each took a number of actions impacting transportation programs and agencies prior to the Congressional wrap-up for the holidays. Those actions included work to extend the surface transportation programs, fully fund federal transportation agencies for transit for the remainder of FY 2010 and proposed a new “jobs bill” that would entail significant funding for transit programs.
As previously noted, the House of Representatives approved a $1.07 trillion omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 3288) with the THUD appropriations bill acting as the legislative vehicle on December 10th. The House then agreed to the final conference report on the bill by a vote of 221 – 202, with the Senate approving the measure on December 13, by a margin of 57 – 35. The measure included the Commerce-Science-Justice, Financial Services, Labor-HHS-Education, Military Construction and Veteran’s Affairs, and State and Foreign appropriations bills, leaving the Defense appropriations bill as the legislative vehicle to carry all remaining “must pass” legislation.
In the Missouri delegation, Congressman Clay, Carnahan, and Cleaver voted for the bill with Congressional members Akin, Graves, Emerson and Luekemeyer voted against the bill. Congressmen Blunt and Skelton did not vote on the bill.
In the Senate, Senator McCaskill voted no and Senator Bond did not vote on the bill.
A comparison of the House and Senate version of the bill as well as the funding levels in the agreed upon Conference Report follows:
Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation Appropriations Comparison
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
The House and Senate then considered H.R. 3326, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Defense appropriations bill which also included a further extension of core highway and transit programs through February 28, 2010. Funding under this extension is set at FY 2009 levels. This action was taken to enable Congress to continue consideration of a long-term surface transportation authorization bill or a further extension of existing programs. The Senate passed the Defense appropriations bill on Saturday, December 19, and the President signed the bill into law that day. This action was necessary as the previous CR was set to expire on December 18, 2009.
As a result, the Federal Transit Program now has five full months of authority (October 2009-February 2010).
Before adjourning on the December 18, the House of Representatives also passed H.R. 2847, The Jobs for Main Street Act, 2010. The bill is referred to as a second economic stimulus bill. The bill appropriates $75 billion from the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury. Of this amount, $37.3 billion would be provided to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Of the $37.3 billion for transportation programs, $8.4 billion would be allocated to transit, and $27.5 billion provided for the Federal-Aid Highway Program.
The funds within the Federal Transit Program would be allocated in the following manner:
$6.15B Transit capital assistance formula programs, including $4.84 billion allocated for urban formula grants, and $605 million each for rural formula grants and the high density/growing states formula grants.
$500M The Capital Investment Grant (New Starts) program
$1.75B Fixed Guideway Modernization program
$100M The Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program
$800M Amtrak fleet modernization (rehabilitation of existing & purchase of new)
Perhaps as notable as the increased funding is a provision in the bill that renews a provision made available through an amendment to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that enables grant recipients to use up to 10 percent of their formula apportionment (those funds received through the provisions of the Jobs Act) for operating costs or for eligible activities under section 5311(f).
Likewise, the bill provides for a further extension of SAFETEA-LU through the end of FY 2010 (past the February 28th date noted above and included in the FY 2010 DOD Appropriation bill) and also includes a provision that allows for 100 percent federal funding for projects funded during FY 2010, either through new funds provided under The Jobs for Main Street Act, OR through regular FY 2010 FTA appropriations
It is not clear how and when the Senate will deal with the bill. The Senate is expected to consider “jobs” legislation in when it returns from the holiday recess on January 18th, 2010.
Other items of note:
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood has authorized the establishment of a Federal Advisory Committee to address transit safety issues. The Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) will consist of up to 25 voting members who will provide recommendations regarding transit safety and other issues to the secretary through Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff.
Grants under the Section 5309 "Livability Bus Program" face an application deadline of Feb. 8, 2010. Since these are Section 5309 funds, eligible applicants are direct recipients of Section 5307 funds in urbanized areas, Indian tribes (regardless of whether they are receiving Section 5311(c) funds), and states. A total of $150 million is available for competitive grants under this heading; federal share is 80 percent.
Meanwhile, under the Section 5309 "Urban Circulator" program, applications are due Feb. 8, 2010. Eligible applicants are those who are eligible for "new starts/small starts" funding under Section 5309, which essentially are state governments and urban public transit authorities. A total of $130 million is available for competitive grants under this heading, all grants will be $25 million or less; federal share is 80 percent.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Dec. 14 that $253 million in grants will be available to high-risk metropolitan transit systems under the Transit Security Grant program. This money will go toward equipment and training, which over the past several years has included such information technology items as perimeter security systems, surveillance systems, and interoperable communications.
Bloomfield Public Trasportation System has a zero tolerance policy
| bloomfield_da_policy_2009.doc |
| 49-40_procedures.pdf |
| 49cfr655.pdf |