By Ron Thaniel
January 10, 2005

With Congress returning for the 109th session last week, key transportation leaders report plans to reintroduce similar surface transportation legislation early in 2005. Congressional leaders are saying they would like to see the measures reintroduced in January, marked up and passed by February and back in conference by March.

The House measure called for a funding level of $275 billion over six years; the Senate bill called for $318 billion over six years. The House'senate conference committee considered a $299 billion funding level, but agreement failed.

Authorization for the federal transit, highway and safety programs expired September 30, 2003. Federal aid has been continued through short-term extensions. The current extension will expire May 31, 2005.

During December recess, the Conference continued to mount a metro focused advocacy campaign calling for a well funded six-year surface transportation law to build a 21st Century Transportation system. This system should have modern transit, bridges, large scale transportation infrastructure projects, and metro highway systems with new technologies that link major metro areas, cut the time people spend in traffic, create more jobs, and move goods and services more productively.

Recognizing that public transportation reduces congestion, The United States Conference of Mayors urges maximum funding for public transportation to stimulate a dramatic expansion of high-capacity public transit systems, including light rail, heavy rail, commuter rail, and bus service.

Funding for the transit program from the general fund and the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund should be guaranteed and The United States Conference of Mayors supports maintaining current federal- local matching shares for the transit program as authorized under ISTEA and TEA-21.

Oppose efforts to increase funding for the highway program by reducing funding for the transit program by maintaining the 20 percent transit - 80 percent highway share.

Support the historical funding allocation of 40 percent for rail modernization, 40 percent for the new starts program and 20 percent for the bus and bus facilities program.

Recognizing that cities throughout the United States are embracing less expensive, fixed guideway transit projects like streetcars, trolleys and bus rapid transit, The United States Conference of Mayors supports the establishment of a new Small Starts Program with modified Federal rules to expedite these projects.

Acknowledging that 32 percent of our major roads are in poor condition and 29 percent of the nation's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, The United States Conference of Mayors urges Congress to increased funding for the core highway programs.

Recognizing that it is difficult for localities and states to dedicate adequate resources to build, rebuild, or repair large-scale infrastructure projects addressing freight and goods movement, safety, and aging and congested transportation infrastructure, The Conference of Mayors maintains strong support, including maximum funding, for Projects of National and Regional Significance.

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) should receive substantially increased funding over TEA-21levels in response to the growing number of non-attainment areas designated under the 8- hour ozone and fine particulate matter standards.

Oppose efforts designed to divert CMAQ funds to other purposes, undermining commitments to metropolitan areas to fund the clean air mandate.

Recognizing that metropolitan areas are struggling with the contamination of drinking water and the cleanup of streams, rivers, lakes and ponds from stormwater discharge, including oil, grease, lead and mercury, The United States Conference of Mayors maintains strong support for the establishment of a Highway Stormwater Discharge Mitigation Program.

Recognizing that safe routes for bicycles, walking and other non-motorized transportation choices are still inadequate in many metropolitan areas, The United States Conference of Mayors maintains support the Safe Routes to School program and also support maximum funding for Transportation Enhancements.

The United States Conference of Mayors maintains support for metropolitan planning that would increase the takedown for metropolitan areas from 1 percent to 1.5 percent. The United States Conference of Mayors believes this adjustment will enhance clean air efforts, increase public involvement and will improve congestion relief efforts.