Transportation Reauthorization

Presented by:Erich W. Zimmermann, Director

Transportation Programs

National Association of Regional Councils

Overview• About NARC• MAP-21: Quick Overview• MAP-21: The Sequel• Answers?• NARC and Reauthorization

About NARC• National non-profit trade organization• Represents multi-jurisdictional regional planning organizations

– large and small, urban and rural• Thank you for extremely strong AZ membership

• Formed by NACo and NLC• Governed by local elected officials

• President Hon. Penny Gross, Supervisor, Fairfax County, VA• Advised by Executive Directors• Four core areas of concentration

– Transportation– Economic & Community Development– Homeland Security/Public Safety– Environment

• Membership covers 97% of counties; 99% of population

MAP-21 Reauthorization – The Basics• Signed July 6, 2012• First reauthorization since 2005• Required 11 extensions of previous law• 27-month authorization (expires 10/1/2014)• Current funding levels maintained plus inflation

o $105 billion for FY13 & FY14 (~$53 billion/yr)o ~$41 b/yr for federal highwayso Transfers $18.8 billion to HTF from GF

• Congressional reauthorization hearings have started

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Challenges• Funding, funding, funding

• Not sustainable• Trust fund facing insolvency• CBO Drops a bomb at TRB

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Challenges• Funding, funding, funding

• Not sustainable• Trust fund facing insolvency• CBO Drops a bomb at TRB

• Heavy reliance on general funds• $41 billion to date, plus $12.6b for ’14• Another $15b would be need for ‘15 (CBO)• Makes extending the bill potentially challenging

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Challenges• Funding, funding, funding

• Not sustainable• Trust fund facing insolvency• CBO Drops a bomb at TRB

• Heavy reliance on general funds• $41 billion to date, plus $12.6b for ’14• Another $15b would be need for ‘15 (CBO)• Makes extending the bill potentially challenging

• House leadership wants to discuss policy, minority may be reluctant to be out front on this

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Challenges• Funding, funding, funding

• Not sustainable• Trust fund facing insolvency• CBO Drops a bomb at TRB

• Heavy reliance on general funds• $41 billion to date, plus $12.6b for ’14• Another $15b would be need for ‘15 (CBO)• Makes extending the bill potentially challenging

• House leadership wants to discuss policy, minority may be reluctant to be out front on this

• Prospects for broad-based tax reform unclear at best• Thought to be best avenue for gas tax increase• Sen. Baucus’ retirement

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Answers?• No lack of ideas, but severe lack of political will to

make them happen• Gas tax increase

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Answers?• No lack of ideas, but severe lack of political will to

make them happen• Gas tax increase• Wholesale tax to replace per gallon tax

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Answers?• No lack of ideas, but severe lack of political will to

make them happen• Gas tax increase• Wholesale tax to replace per gallon tax• VMT Tax?

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Answers?• No lack of ideas, but severe lack of political will to

make them happen• Gas tax increase• Wholesale tax to replace per gallon tax• VMT Tax?• Tolling

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Answers?• No lack of ideas, but severe lack of political will to

make them happen• Gas tax increase• Wholesale tax to replace per gallon tax• VMT Tax?• Tolling• Everybody wants the next TIFIA

• Financing ≠ Funding

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Answers?• Secretary Foxx (TRB conference, 1/15/14)

• Funding

• Efficiency

• National Vision

• Safety

• Focus on “other” modes (biking, walking)

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Answers?• Committee Chairman Shuster (Kick off reauthorization

hearing, 1/14/14)

• “Fiscally responsible”

• Build on reforms of MAP-21

• Reduce regulatory burdens

• Ensure federal partners have flexibility in how they spend and approve projects

• Also: performance measures, freight

MAP-21 Reauthorization – Answers?• Not all about funding

• In fact, some areas of potential policy agreement on the Hill• Freight• Streamlining• Performance Measures

MAP-21 Reauthorization

MAP-21 Reauthorization

Roundtable Goals: • Provide an opportunity for Regions to connect with

colleagues, • review major parts of MAP-21, • provide comment and feedback, and • share experiences.AND• Develop recommendations for reauthorization

MAP-21 Reauthorization

Non/Metropolitan Planning

Distribution of Federal Funding

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality

Surface Transportation Program

Transportation Alternatives Freight Policy

NHPP Safety

MAP-21 Topics Covered

MAP-21 Reauthorization – NARC’s Perspective

• Thresthold• Funding• Avoid additional burdens w/o additional funding• Flexibility• Sub-allocation

• STP/TAP/CMAQ• Freight

• Dedicated funding• Strong regional role• Intermodal

• Safety

Join us in February!

NARC contact info:

Thank you!

www.narc.org202.986.1032

My contact info:erich@narc.org

202-986-1032 x212