Federal Transit Administration Plans Release of New, Small Starts Notice

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) said it intends to release a notice of proposed rulemaking for the New Starts and Small Starts programs by the end of May, FTA Administrator James Simpson said May 10.  Simpson, testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Highways and Transit Subcommittee, told lawmakers that FTA has been reviewing extensive comments on the programs in preparing the notice.  "Given the complexity of the issues involved and the level of interest in both the New Starts and Small Starts programs, the comments we received were extensive," Simpson said. "FTA has worked diligently to review and reconcile the comments, and we hope to soon issue a [notice] for both the New Starts and Small Starts program." The New Starts program identifies and recommends new fixed-guideway transit projects for funding as authorized in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. No. 109-59). The Small Starts program, also authorized under SAFETEA-LU, is intended to provide an expedited and streamlined evaluation and rating process for smaller-scale transit projects.

Rescission of $683 Million in State Funds Stays Part of House Iraq War Supplemental

Legislative language rescinding $683 million of highway contract authority that had been apportioned to the states remained in the new House Iraq war supplemental bill May 14, despite objections from the leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The language is the same that appeared in the Senate-House conference report for the original supplemental eventually vetoed by President Bush. House leadership decided to include the language in the new bill (H.R. 2206).  House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) said in an April 23 letter to top congressional appropriators that the rescission of highway contract authority is in the jurisdiction of his committee, not the House Appropriations Committee, and would violate the rules of the House. The rescission would be used to offset the emergency relief amendment totaling $683 million agreed to address the Federal Highway Administration's "entire backlog of highway ER needs."  "This rescission of highway contract authority is highly gratuitous in nature, as it is neither required nor effective as an offset for the supplemental appropriation to the emergency relief program," Oberstar said in the letter.

House Passes Legislation Establishing Mexican Truck Pilot Program

The House passed legislation (H.R. 1773) May 15 that establishes requirements for an administration pilot plan to let Mexican trucks operate inside the United States, in accordance with the North American Free Trade Agreement. Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) said the "Safe American Roads Act of 2007 would assure in-depth audits and oversight of the Department of Transportation program to allow Mexican trucks to cross into the United States.” DeFazio said he wished the president would withdraw from NAFTA provisions requiring the United States to open its border to Mexican truck traffic, but that at least Congress is being assured DOT is protecting America's roadways. The legislation was approved 411-3 under suspension rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Committee Plans for 2007 Annual Meeting in Boston

There is still time to register for the  NCSL 2007 Annual Meeting online at http://www.ncsl.org/forum/registration.htm.  The Annual Meeting will be held August 5-9 in Boston, Massachusetts.   The Standing Committee on Transportation will be looking at ports and possibly including a trip to the port authority of Boston, drowsy driving, congestion, rail safety issues, federal transportation and funding issues, and coordination of human services.   The agenda will be available online shortly.  Please check the committee webpage for additional updates, news and annual meeting information located online at http://www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sctran/sctran.htm.