Legislative Updates

TEA 21 Reauthorization Update

Although little has been decided of late regarding TEA 21 Reauthorization, leadership is still optimistic that a bill can be passed this session. Speaker Hastert has labeled this legislation as “high-priority”, so your voice is still needed! The largest point of contention continues to be the overall size of the bill. It is clear that members of Congress need to hear from you, their constituents, that you support a higher level of investment. With the most recent TEA 21 extension set to expire at the end of June, Congress has decided to draft and pass another one-month extension. The next Reauthorization Conference Committee hearing is scheduled for June 23^rdat 2pm.

FY2005 Budget Update

The Senate Appropriations Committee is still debating their FY2005 budget resolutions. There has been some discussion of passing the appropriations as a single omnibus or several smaller “mini-bus” packages. The Appropriations Committee has passed a $32 billion Homeland Security Appropriations bill, about $165 million of which would be set aside for funding rail transit security projects and programs.

NAPTA News

Member profile

As part of our effort to share best practices, we will be profiling another member organization for each update. Groups interested in being profiled for the NAPTA Update should answer the questionnaire at http://www.napta.net/questionnaire.htm.

The Dulles Corridor Rail Association is celebrating the recent passage of a milestone in their crusade for rail infrastructure in the Reston, VA area: the Federal Transit Administration granted approval for preliminary engineering on the project on June 10^th. Due to the recent technology boom and the most recent round of urban renewal, Reston has seen great leaps in local economic growth and land development. The DCRA, under the direction Patricia Nicoson, has sought to secure funding for an extension of the Washington DC Metrorail system to Dulles Airport, to the northwest of DC. The funding options they advocate for include an earmark in the next TEA 21 bill, private sponsorships, local tolls and taxes. Click here for the DCRA website: http://www.dullescorridorrail.com. The FTA’s press release on PE for rail in the Dulles Corridor here: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/fta1704.htm. Congratulations!

Resources, Articles and Interesting Tidbits

Sierra Club weighs in on Administration’s New Starts stance

The Sierra Club released a report this week that highlights the success of the federal New Starts program in spawning efficient new public transportation projects nationwide, which creates a myriad of economic benefits including the creation of jobs. The report warns against the Administration’s interest in changing the funding share from 80% federal funds and 20% state/local funding to 50% and 50%, which the Sierra Club believes would prevent many local communities from getting public transportation projects.

http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/report04/introduction.asp

Stay well informed with VTPI’s resources

The Victoria Transport Policy Institute conducts independent research on various issues regarding efficient and sustainable transportation options. They have recently updated a number of their publications and reports. If you have not perused their online library in your efforts to become better armed against transit critics, now is the time! http://www.vtpi.org

Sprawl and car use linked to obesity

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine this month describes how Americans who depend on their cars for all of their transportation needs are more likely to be overweight. The Washington Post has an article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3062-2004May30.html

Transit Initiatives Conference CD Available!

The Center for Transportation Excellence recently released its CD from the highly successful transit initiatives conference held last December in Tempe, AZ. The CD includes power point presentations, transcripts and audio of the sessions, a speaker index and other useful materials. All attendees receive the CD for free. It is available for $10 (to cover development and mailing costs) on the CFTE site at http://www.cfte.org/TIC/PostTIC.asp

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