By Ron Thaniel
August 2, 2010

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations completed the fiscal year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations for transportation programs on July 22 by allocating $68 billion in discretionary funds for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Specifically, the Committee approved $42 billion for the Federal Highway Administration, which is $3 billion less than the House bill.

The Committee also approved $10.6 billion for public transportation programs. This is $600 million less than the House bill's obligation limitation. The $10.6 billion includes $8.4 billion for the Formula and Bus Grant account, $2 billion for New and Small Starts, and $100 million for Transit Energy Efficiency Greenhouse Grants.

In addition, the Committee provided $3.1 billion for Amtrak, the High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program, and investments in positive train control. Specifically, the Committee provided Amtrak with $1.4 billion for capital, which is $196 million more than the House bill, and $563 million for operating, which is level with the House bill. Of concern for the Conference of Mayors is that the appropriation for the High Speed Rail and Intercity Passenger Rail Program is $1.5 billion less than the enacted level for FY -10, which was $2.5 billion. The House bill provided the High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program with $1.4 billion.

Regarding aviation programs, the Committee provided $16.3 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration’s operations, capital, research and airport grant programs, which is $200 million less than the House bill. This includes level funding for the Airport Improvement Program at $3.5 billion.

The Conference of Mayors is pleased to see that the Committee has provided $150 million for the Sustainable Communities Initiative for the second year in a row. The partnership with HUD, DOT, and EPA seeks to help communities better coordinate their housing and transportation resources. The Conference of Mayors is voicing strong support for this partnership, which is under attack by the highway and road lobby.

The Conference of Mayors is also pleased to see that the Committee has increased funding for the National Infrastructure Investment Program (TIGER) by $200 million, bringing the total to $800 million. This is another program under attack the highway and road industry. This lobby, with support of some states, is lobbying for traditional formula programs, which primarily flow from the federal government to states for allocation within the state at the discretion of state departments of transportation, which historically have largely allocated the funding to road projects outside metropolitan areas. Under TIGER, funding is available to states, cities, transit agencies, port authorities, Metropolitan Planning Organizations and multi-jurisdictional entities – for capital investments in highway or bridge projects, public transportation projects, passenger and freight rail transportation projects, port infrastructure investments, and intermodal facilities. TIGER received $600 million in FY -10.