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Senate Releases Transportation Bill

As Passenger Transport went to press, on July 22 the Senate passed a cloture vote by 62-36 that allows it to proceed to consideration of a comprehensive, six-year surface transportation authorization bill released the previous day.


A cloture vote is a procedural vote that places a time limit on the Senate’s consideration of a specific measure. It require 60 votes to pass. A previous cloture vote attempt failed by 41-56.

The bill would extend highway and transit policy for six years, although senators have so far found only three years’ worth of funding offsets for it. The bill is now open to amendments.

The House previously passed its own bill that would extend transportation programs through Dec. 18.

The Senate’s bill includes a public transit title from Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, a highway title from the Environment and Public Works Committee, a rail title from the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and a finance title from the Finance Committee.

Much of the controversy involved the so-called “pay-fors” or offsets for the general funds that would be deposited into the Highway Trust Fund, including the Mass Transit Account. Total offsets were estimated to cover only about the first three years of the authorized spending and many of those offsets are considered somewhat controversial. Many senators expressed concerns about the way the bill reached the floor, stating that they had not had time to review it.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), ranking member, Senate Banking Committee, voiced concern about the failure of the committee to hold a markup and had not signed off on Shelby’s draft.

The Commerce Committee's title extends the PTC implementation deadline to Dec. 31, 2018. It also requires the secretary of transportation to coordinate with the FCC chairman to assess spectrum needs and availability for implementing PTC and to report to Congress on their findings. Further, the legislation also increases the liability cap, but it does not establish a mandatory minimum for insurance coverage.

In addition, the title includes a modified version of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, which was previously passed by the committee, and incorporates the Railroad Reform, Enhancement and Efficiency Act, approved by the committee on June 25.

The bill authorizes Amtrak funding, grants to rail agencies and modifies the Railroad ­Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program to support the implementation of PTC. It also leaves the TIGER program unauthorized, subject to annual appropriations as it currently operates.
For the latest details, visit the APTA website.
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