New federal transportation law aims to set stable funding, accelerate project delivery Jim Fahey Director of Government and Public Affairs American Public Works Association Washington, D.C.
n the last week of June, as the ninth temporary extension of federal transportation funding was due to run out, the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the conference report reauthorizing surface transportation programs. The legislation replacing the expired Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), enacted in 2005, was given the name Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21).
MAP-21 provides funding for federal highway, transit and safety programs through September 2014 at current levels with a small inflationary adjustment, totaling approximately $105 billion. It includes reforms expediting project delivery, establishes policies to improve freight movement and consolidates the number of highway programs by about twothirds, with a focus placed on the National Highway System. Among provisions to expedite project delivery is one designating projects
The Engineering Tribute to the Presidential Inauguration This is an invitation for prospective speakers (of all disciplines) to participate in the forthcoming “Engineering Tribute to the Presidential Inauguration.” The next presidential inauguration will take place on January 20, 2013. One of the inaugural events will be the “Engineering Tribute to the Presidential Inauguration.” This event has been videotaped and televised since 1997, so all of the presentations are viewed by large audiences. There is no charge for attendance and/or participation. Attendees may deliver presentations, or they may be seated in the audience as spectators.
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Electric and hydroelectric power generation, transmission, and distribution
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Freshwater supplies for farming and consumption by human beings living in urban areas
Presentations in the following areas will be especially welcome:
Prospective speakers should e-mail abstracts of 300 words or less to Kenneth Freelain, P.E., at engineering_ tribute@yahoo.com by December 1, 2012. Telephone: (301) 891-0496. Non-speakers who plan to attend should also pre-register at the same e-mail address.
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The design, construction, maintenance, and operation of buildings, roads, dams, bridges, canals, and other infrastructure facilities
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Sewage treatment and the design, construction, maintenance and operation of piping systems and sewage treatment plants
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Environmental protection
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Engineering in the private sector
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Energy supplies, including coal, gas, oil, nuclear, solar, etc.
with limited federal funding as a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. The categorical exclusion applies to any project that receives less than $5 million in federal funds and any project with a total estimated cost of not more than $30 million receiving federal funds comprising less than 15 percent of the total estimated project costs. Another provision designates any project within the existing operational right-of-way as a categorical exclusion. MAP-21 places increased emphasis on performance measures, focusing the highway program on key outcomes, such as reducing fatalities, improving road and bridge conditions, reducing congestion, increasing system reliability, and improving freight movement and economic vitality. For the popular Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (TIFIA) Act program, MAP-21 provides $1 billion each year and modifies the program by increasing the maximum share of project costs from 33 percent to 49 percent and setting aside funding for projects in rural areas at more favorable terms. TIFIA provides direct loans, loan guarantees and lines of credit to surface transportation projects. MAP-21 nearly doubles safety funding and retains SAFETEA-LU’s 15 percent off-system bridge set-aside. MAP-21 originally had eliminated the setaside for bridges not on the federalaid system, but was amended on the Senate floor to restore it.
