The House and Senate approved the Fiscal Year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill on February 13, providing $31.6 billion in highways spending and $7.2 billion for transit programs.  Highway spending receives a boost of about $4 billion over the “guaranteed” spending level of $27.6 billion set in TEA-21, with transit programs receiving the level set in the 1998 law, minus a .65 percent reduction applied to federal discretionary spending.

The final spending levels for this fiscal year are particularly important, as this is the last year of the six-year TEA-21 period, with the higher level moving the baseline spending level upward.  Rep. Don Young (R-AK), the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said, "despite the small cut I'm satisfied with the level of funding for highways and transit.”

The action closes out a lengthy negotiation over many funding priorities, with the broad appropriations measure addressing most of the federal government’s spending for the remainder of FY’03, which began October 1 and concludes September 30.  The 3000-page bill is loaded with provisions, many of which go well beyond simply funding matters, including provisions that override existing law and regulations and even add entirely provisions to federal law. Changes affecting federal lands, for example, were strongly debated during Senate action on the bill (H.J. Res. 2), provisions that fundamentally reshape how the U.S. Forest Service particularly can manage federal lands and private party access to these lands for logging.

Included in the FY 2003 Omnibus spending agreement is a cut in funding for the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program (JARC).  While the JARC program was slated for $150 million, it will receive $105 million, a 30% reduction. The JARC program assists low-income workers and people moving from welfare to work. 

On February 10, a new coalition of local elected officials released a common platform for TEA-21 reauthorization that seeks to strengthen their voice in influencing transportation decisions and increase their access to federal funds.  The 11-member Local Officials for Transportation, which includes the National League of Cities, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, and Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, indicated support for suballocating a greater share of federal transportation funds to the regional level and improving local decision-making powers over project selection.  

The groups noted that only about six cents of every dollar is certain to reach local officials, yet they own about 75 percent of the highway and road network, 90 percent of transit systems, and nearly half of all bridges.  Reflecting the need for an equitable share of federal transportation resources, Dallas councilmember Sandy Greyson said "Members of the Local Officials for Transportation coalition know what needs to be done, because we are closest to the problems."  

"Our coalition is calling for adjustments in the new transportation bill that will provide a greater sub-allocation of resources to local governments through metropolitan planning organizations, or MPOs," said Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr.  

"Suballocation is the tool that gives local government entities the resources and decision-making ability to direct transportation funds where they are most needed." 

The group also recommending increasing funding for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program in anticipation of new non-attainment areas being designated and taxing ethanol at the same rate as gasoline to generate new revenues for the Highway Trust Fund. 

For more information on Local Officials for Transportation, click here. 

A January 21 report released by the Department of Transportation Inspector General Kenneth Mead identified the Federal Highway Administration’s need to “refocus oversight to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery of major projects and to promote efforts to prevent, detect, and prosecute contractor fraud.” 

The report shows that in the past three years, indictments have tripled, convictions doubled, and monetary recoveries tripled from $15.8 million to $43.2 million.  It also shows an increase in the use of ‘front companies’ involving the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program that is designed to promoted minority participation in contracting on DOT-funded transportation infrastructure projects. These conclusions were based on an examination of 18 major highway and transit projects.

Of particular note, Mead wants the U.S. DOT to work with Congress and the states to strengthen suspension sanctions, increase scrutiny of cost proposals, and award new contracts based on contractors past performance and compliance with laws pertaining to fraud.

The President’s budget request for FY’04 calls for a new $100 million initiative to reduce the burden of diabetes, obesity and asthma-related complications. The initiative – “Steps to a Healthier U.S.” – will be led by the Centers for Disease Control, in partnership with other HHS agencies. In remarks on the initiative, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said, “The President and I want to prevent diabetes, obesity, asthma and many other chronic diseases. We included $125 million in the budget, a $100 million increase, to support community initiatives that help people make lead healthier lives and prevent diseases.”

Under the general outlines of the proposal, competitive grants will be provided to states and local areas to pilot community interventions to achieve healthier lifestyles, specifically emphasizing healthier choices by youth. The program is focused on: promoting state leadership and programs to motivate responsible health choices; community initiatives that promote and enable healthy choices, with a focus on youth and the elderly; and health care and insurance systems that put prevention first. Developing common reporting requirements and performance measures will be part of the program. This request expands upon the “Healthy Communities” initiative that was proposed in last year’s budget.

STPP and its coalition partners have been working to identify ways the nearly $40 billion in annual surface transportation spending can more effectively combat the effects of chronic diseases by providing better options for walking, bicycling and more active living at the local and regional level. For additional information, click here.

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R) has announced a set of priorities and initiatives designed to reign in excessive new transportation projects, prioritize fixing existing infrastructure, and give communities more say in determining the shape and scope of transportation projects in the state.

According to Gov. Romney, the new ‘fix it first approach’ will allow the state to repair and improve state roads and bridges while working to prevent suburban sprawl by focusing available state money on these projects. “Rather than spending our money and resources on building new highways, which are often tied up in lengthy battles over various legal and environmental concerns, we want to focus our spending where it makes a difference,” Gov. Romney said.

The governor’s new Communities First initiative is designed to give local communities more control and input in designing road and bridge projects. Key to this effort is a plan to retool the state Highway Department’s design manual to incorporate greater local involvement and to simplify the decision-making process. Additionally, Gov. Romney plans to appoint an ombudsman to advocate for local concerns, and to place a ‘heightened emphasis’ on plans that feature bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Governor Romney is also considering eliminating most of the sport utility vehicles from the government’s fleet, opting instead for smaller vehicles with better gas mileage. “The price tag for SUVs is 50 percent more than regular cars and it’s 50 percent more to operate,” Douglas Foy, Governor Romney’s housing, transportation and environment coordinator, told the Boston Globe. “Aside from the environmental issue, it’s a budget issue in these austere times.”

Additionally, the governor is reportedly considering requiring many state employees to give up their state cars in favor of Zipcar, an hourly car-share program that features hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles. 

Linking Transit to Communities

APTA has partnered with the Livable Communities consortium to sponsor a workshop on March 12, "Linking Transit to Communities". Sessions are on partnering with developers and health and human services providers, and presenters include the Project for Public Spaces, the Urban Land Institute, and the Los Angeles MTA.