The full conference committee report can be found at the House Committee on Rules website. The joint explanatory statement of the Committee of the Conference is available here. The document is 91 pages but you can find the explanatory statement in the first 17 pages. The remainder of the statement provides summaries of various tax and revenue provisions.
The bill provides for expenditure authority through September 30, 2014. However, it extends the authority to collect gasoline taxes until September 2016. Highway funding is set at $39.78B in FY2013 and $40.3B in FY2014. The highway program is approximately $1.5B less than the Senate MAP-21 bill.
States will be able to opt out for bicycle/pedestrian programs. Other provisions in the conference report of importance to MPOs are listed below.
Metropolitan and Statewide Transportation Planning
Maintains MPO threshold at 50,000 and 200,000 for TMA's. Improves planning processes to incorporate a more comprehensive performance-based approach. Requires MPOs to include officials at public agencies that administer and operate public transportation systems within 2 years of enactment.
Maintains the urbanized area grants and criteria for 5307 funds. It creates a pilot program for transit-oriented development planning to advance planning efforts that support transit-oriented development around fixed guideway capital investment projects.
Performance MeasuresKey outcomes for the highway program, such as reducing fatalities, improving road and bridge conditions, reducing congestion.
TIFIA Program
Modifies the TIFIA program by increasing funding for the program to $1 billion per year, by increasing the maximum share of project costs from 33% to 49%, by allowing TIFIA to be used to support a related set of projects, and by setting aside funding for projects in rural areas at more favorable terms.
Executive Director Fred Abousleman from NARC sent a press release after the conference report was filed in part stating,
"We are pleased that Congress retained current metropolitan planning law; preserving small and medium metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) and addressing large MPO authority and funding issues. We are also pleased that elected officials in nonmetropolitan regions can engage in better defined and more robust transportation planning. These, among others, are changes we are happy to see and we thank the leaders in Congress for their attention to these important issues."
It is anticipated that both the Transportation & HUD appropriation bill and transportation reauthorization will be up for a vote today. NARC has scheduled a teleconference today from Noon - 1:00 p.m. to provide a high level summary of the conference report. The call information is below:
Phone number: 1.213.493.0604
Access code: 422.323.018
The conference committee report does not include the title of Surface Transportation & Freight Policy Act of 2012. This title included provisions establishing a comprehensive national surface transportation system and freight transportation policy, and provisions for safety standards to ensure that the design of federal transportation projects provides for adequate consideration of non-motorized users.
Other key provisions outlined in the conference report are listed below. Please click on the link above for a complete listing of provisions in the conference report.
Commercial Motor Vehicles
Amends registration requirements under federal law for commercial motor vehicles, freight forwarders and brokers. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations requiring logging devices for recording hours of service in commercial vehicles and sets basic performance standards for the device. Addresses commercial driver safety; driver medical qualifications, operator training, driver's license program, drivers requirements and driver information systems. Establishes a national repository for records related to alcohol and controlled substances testing for CMV drivers.
Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants (New Starts)
Reforms and streamlines the "Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grant" program (previously the "Major Capital Investment Grant" or "New Starts" program). Based on extensive feedback from project sponsors and other stakeholders, the bill streamlines the New Starts process to accelerate project delivery by eliminating duplicative steps in project development and instituting a modified program structure that will allow the Federal Transit Administration to review proposals quickly, without sacrificing effective project oversight.
Projects under $100 million can utilize an expedited review process if they meet standards of similar highly qualified projects. The bill also creates a category of demonstration projects for sponsors that propose a significant amount of local and/or private funding and reduce the federal commitment required for the projects.
Formula Grants for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
Consolidates the existing "Elderly and Disabled" and "New Freedom" programs into a single program that increases the level of resources available beyond the level of funding available under existing programs. The consolidated program will continue to ensure support for non-profit providers of transportation, and it will continue to make available funds for public transportation services that exceed the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Formula Grants for Rural Areas
Maintains the existing structure providing funding to states for public transportation in rural areas. The 5311 formula is expanded to include the rural component of the "Job Access and Reverse Commute" program, and the level of public transportation service that is provided within a state's rural areas is considered in the distribution of new funds.
Freight PolicyEstablishes policies to improve freight movement. It calls for the development of a National Freight Strategic Plan, encourages state freight plans and advisory committees, and provides incentives for states that fund projects to improve freight.
Motor Carrier Grant Programs
Retains existing grant programs and authorizes FY2013 & 2014 at current funding levels. Allows the Secretary to examine methods and approaches for streamlining grants administration and processes to reduce burdens for the states and local governments.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Enhances their safety authorities. Increases transparency and accountability at the agency and in the auto industry.
Establishes a Council for Vehicle Electronics, Vehicle Software, and Emerging technologies to build, implement, and aggregrate NHTSA's expertise in passenger motor vehicle electronics and other new and emerging technologies.
New section, National Priority Safety Programs, allocates funds across six incentive grant programs and allows such funds to be used for a research program on technology to prevent impaired driving.
Public Transportation
Contains improvements in safety oversight, streamlined review of new capital projects, program consolidation, and a shift from earmarks and discretionary programs to robust formula programs that public transportation systems can rely on to upgrade and improve aging infrastructure and vehicles. The Act provides increased funding levels for FY2013 and 2014 based on expected inflation.
Authorizes the FTA to continue making grants for the development of voluntary standards by the public transportation industry related to procurement, safety and other subjects and authorizes the Secretary to fund technical assistance centers to assist grant recipients following a competitive process.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants, or enter into contracts for, activities that address human resource and workforce needs as they apply to public transportation activities.
Creates the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program, a competitive grant program to promote and assist the development of innovative workforce development and human resource activities within the public transportation industry.
Establishes a program to assist States and public transportation systems pay for protecting, repairing, or replacing equipment and facilities that are in danger of suffering serious damage or have suffered serious damage as a result of an emergency.
Establishes a National Public Transportation Safety Plan to improve the safety of all public transportation systems that receive federal funding.
Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment Projects
Modifies the existing research program by eliminating earmarks and reforming the program to provide research focused on public transportation with a goal of providing meaningful results.
Creates a clearly delineated pipeline with criteria for continued progress with a goal of taking an idea from the research phase through to demonstration and deployment in the field.
For the first time, the program specifically provides funding for demonstration and deployment of products and services that may benefit public transportation; a major impediment to putting new technology to use in the field often cited by public transportation providers.
