Administration Unveils TEA-21 Renewal Plan On 5/14/03, the Bush Administration released their renewal plan, called “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA)” Calls for reforms and changes to the current ISTEA/TEA-21 framework Proposes a total spending level of $247 billion for highway and transit programs.

STPP Views on SAFETEA Praised Administration for preserving the “general framework” of the current transportation law. Concerned with proposals that weaken protections for clean air, historic preservation, parks and wildlife habitat and funding commitments to public transit. Key administration issues: Safety, expanded state and local flexibility for spending transportation dollars, and improved project delivery.

Senate Reaction to SAFETEA July 10, 2003 Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on SAFETEA’s transit proposals: Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) shared concerns about need for adequate financing and opposed Baucus-Grassley bonding plan for transit financing Senator Santorum expressed support for New Starts (e.g., North Shore LRT) and emphasized need for continuation of 80% federal match, not Administration’s call for 50% federal share Senator Santorum indicated with reduced federal match that "big projects that are important for the transformation of our cities would get pushed back in favor of smaller projects"

Broader Congressional Reaction to SAFETEA Both House and Senate Committee went to work on producing bills with much higher spending totals House plan introduced last year calls for $375 billion Senate committees planned for $311 billion Senate committees embraced many proposals from SAFETEA

TEA-21 Extension – Surface Transportation Extension Act (STEA) STEA law provides 5/12 of expected funding for year through February 29, 2004: $14.73 billion for highways and $3.04 billion for transit During debate on STEA, STPP voiced concerns about added flexibility to state DOT’s greater discretion for moving transportation funds among categories (during ISTEA extension, local programs, clean air fund and community enhancements were shorted) On 9/25/03, Congress approved a 5-month extension of TEA-21, known as STEA; President signed it on 9/30

Senate EPW Committee Introduces Renewal Bill (S. 1027) Senate Environment and Public Works Committee adopts SAFETEA as formal name for its renewal bill $255 billion, six-year package for highway and research program Largely embraces key features of the Administration’s proposal STPP Coalition concerns – Weakening of environmental review requirements (i.e. clean air conformity, project delivery under NEPA, Section 4(f))

STEA Becomes Law 9/30 - President signs STEA. Flexibility provisions allowed only on a project-by- project basis. Reconciliation of spending shifts among program categories is to be made once a new law is enacted after February 29, whether it is a new multi-year authorization or another extension bill.

Broader Senate Concerns About S how the proposal’s much higher spending levels would be supported how funds would be allocated among the states program issues and policies secondary

STPP Coalition Priorities in S Increase MPO planning funds: bill proposes 11/2 percent, not current 1%, for MPO planning, with additional funds need for new MPOs, for improving project planning process and greater public involvement 2.Stormwater mitigation projects: in committee, bill added new 2% set- aside of Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds for stormwater projects on the Federal Aid System to further compliance with Clean Water Act 3.Safe Routes to School: bill provided $50 million annually, up to $70 million in committee, for child safety programs around schools on any federal aid, state or local road 4.Freight and rail passenger needs: bill directs transportation system study to address passenger as well as freight rail needs 5.Transportation and Community and System Preservation (TCSP) Program: current program retained with annual funding at $50 million

House Panel Introduces Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) $375 billion over six years for the nation’s highway, transit, and transportation research efforts: $69 billion for transit programs and $298 billion for highway/bridge programs No specifics on additional revenues - committee leaders have supported indexing the federal gas tax as a method. provides assurances to states about funding commitments but no details on how actual funding will be allocated Basic program structure of ISTEA and TEA-21 are preserved Includes new safety initiative, congestion relief programs, and increased attention to intelligent transportation systems Excludes provisions dealing with project streamlining and clean air conformity (under development)

”Metropolitan Congestion Relief Act” (H.R. 3611) Supported by STPP, NACO (counties), NLC (cities), USCM (mayors) and National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) – SPC is member of NARC Current proposal developed by NARC – 7 points in packet On 11/3, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson from Dallas area introduced bill that is:

Social Equity Agenda for TEA-21 Renewal On 12/3, Congressional effort to address social equity agenda unveiled Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus jointly send letter to House T&I leaders, urging actions to address social equity in TEA- 21 renewal identified evidence of transportation-related disparities, including higher rates of asthma, pedestrian fatalities, and motor vehicle crashes among minorities recommended increasing funding for transit, air quality, pedestrian safety, pedestrian and vehicular safety called for stronger public health protections and clarification on how communities are complying with ADA and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act ; require equal access and protect communities from discrimination.

Funding for Senate SAFETEA Highway and Research is announced Minimum guarantee for each state raised from 90.5 cents to 95 cents for each state Pennsylvania’s share drops from $1.12 per dollar in FY 03 to 97 cents by FY 09 On 2/4, Senate EPW Committee provides details of funding to states –

Funding for Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) $4-7 billion in federal funds are spent on transportation each year by eight different federal agencies, often with little coordination with the Federal Transit Administration. According to the General Accounting Office, through greater coordination, these agencies could save between $700 million and $1 billion in federal funds. On 2/4, Access Coalition briefs Congress, with Allegheny County Access to Work participating, noting key findings –

Access Coalition Recommendations Coalition recommendations –increased funding for the JARC program –retain the current program structure, –target a portion of state and metropolitan planning efforts to serving transportation- disadvantaged groups –provide additional incentives to further coordination between public transportation and human service agencies.

Senate Banking Committee Approves Transit Title Access Coalition Recommendations provides $56.5 billion for transit programs, up from $36 billion in TEA-21 PA share of transit increase higher than highway programs Current transit program structure retained, including JARC program New program for “small transit starts” authorized (i.e. transit investments with a federal share of less $75 million do not need fixed guideway) On 2/5, with Senate already debating highway title, Banking panel approves transit title –

Senate Passes SAFETEA Pennsylvania Senators oppose SAFETEA based on highway funding changes (PA highway share drops) Most amendments defeated, including one to use Administration’s funding levels Many technical amendments, and some substantive ones, were adopted en block before the bill cleared the Senate on a vote On 2/12, following eight days of debate, Senate approves renewal plan –

House Passes Four-Month Extension Bill On 2/11, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a four month extension bill Senate returns from Presidents’ Day recess on February 23 and must make a decision on extension Senate leaders favor a shorter extension to keep pressure on House to produce a bill

House Committee Prepares for Action on TEA-LU On 2/11, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a four month extension bill House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee is tentatively planning to act on TEA-LU second week of March this date could slip, given that House leaders, not Committee leaders, are now deciding on what total funding level will be – it will not be $375 billion and probably closer to Senate level pending TEA-LU bill must be restructured to reflect lower funding level key question before House Committee is can they or will they do a bill at lower funding level