1. Federal Transportation Outlook Travis Brouwer ODOT Federal Affairs Advisor January 7, 2011

3. Predictions for 112 th Congress Authorization: Don’t bet on it –No long term bill before Presidential election –Multiple short extensions that make it hard to plan Funding Levels: Flat is not the worst case scenario –No appetite for gas tax increase –Further infusions into Trust Fund difficult Obama’s Transportation Agenda: Not so much –Livability/Sustainable Communities won’t be funded –Discretionary grant programs (TIGER, passenger rail) won’t be funded– or won’t get as much Earmarks: Don’t count on them –Not likely to be in either appropriations or authorization bill

4. Types of Earmarks Authorization Earmarks –“Above the line” bring in additional money –“Below the line” come out of state’s formula funds Annual Appropriations Earmarks –Congress earmarks FHWA discretionary programs

5. Authorization Earmarks SAFETEA-LU included $532 million in highway program earmarks –$327 million for High Priority Projects/Transportation Improvements –$200 million for state highway bridges Next authorization likely to have less

7. Annual Appropriations Earmarks Congress earmarks FHWA programs: Interstate Maintenance Discretionary Public Lands Highways Discretionary Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program (TCSP) Surface Transportation Priorities

8. Typical Earmark Problems Problem: Starting (or completing) work before authorized to do so –Project completed before earmark arrives –Project work starts before IGA in place Solution: Wait until the money comes in and an IGA is in place

9. Typical Earmark Problems Problem: Not enough money –Inaccurate cost estimate (often due to federal-aid requirements) –Getting less than requested Solution: Go in with a solid cost estimate and a backup plan, or come up with phasing/scaling options

10. Typical Earmark Problems Problem: Wanting to change project scope or use money on different project entirely Solution: Find acceptable alternative project or modify scope consistent with earmark language –Get general language up front –In worst case, get congressional delegation to modify language (difficult!)

11. Contact Information Travis Brouwer ODOT Federal Affairs Advisor (503) 986-3448 Travis.brouwer@odot.state.or.us