PT Express 06-24-2022
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June 24, 2022 | An APTA Publication
2022_Rail_Conf
APTA business members met with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) to discuss the economic and social benefits federal investment in public transportation and passenger rail has in his state. From left: APTA staffer Stacie Tiongson; Jarrett Stoltzfus, Proterra Inc.; Sen. Scott; APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas; and John Fink, Wabtec.
Photo by Steve Barrett Photography

APTA Hosts Legislative Advocacy Day Fly-In

APTA held an association-wide Legislative Advocacy Day Fly-In June 22 to advocate for public transit and passenger rail.

Ninety-six business members, transit board members, and CEOs met with 138 congressional offices in-person and virtually, to urge Congress to provide at least $17.0 billion for public transit and $6.7 billion for passenger rail in the THUD Appropriations bill to honor the promise of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  More details will be available in next week’s issue of Passenger Transport.
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House THUD Approps Subcommittee Marks Up Transportation Bill
 
The House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 THUD Appropriations bill June 23.
 
The bill fully funds the public transit authorizations of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). In fact, the total appropriation exceeds the IIJA’s levels in FY 2023. It also appropriates the overwhelming majority of additional passenger rail funding authorized by the IIJA.
 
Specifically, the THUD Appropriations bill, together with the IIJA’s advance appropriations, provides a total of $21.7 billion for public transit in FY 2023, an increase of $1.2 billion (six percent) from the FY 2022 enacted level. This total is $416 million greater than the amount authorized in the IIJA. The THUD bill and IIJA provide $17.1 billion for passenger and freight rail in FY 2023, an increase of $489 million (three percent) from the FY 2022 enacted level.
 
The full committee is scheduled to mark up the bill June 30. It is unclear when the Senate will introduce or consider its THUD appropriations bill.
 
APTA urges its members to contact their members of Congress to support full funding of the IIJA in the THUD Appropriations bill. Read APTA’s Legislative Alert. Send a message to your members of Congress here via a customized page in the APTA Advocacy Campaign Action Center.
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Transportation Partners Oppose Gas Tax Holiday
 
APTA, along with Americans for Transportation Mobility and Transportation Construction Coalition partners, wrote to the White House June 22 opposing suspension of federal and state motor fuel user fees or “gas taxes.”
 
The letter explained that while American consumers are indeed facing significant economic anxieties, suspending the gas tax would not have a meaningful impact but, rather, “would very likely hurt efforts to improve the safety and condition of our roadways, bridges and transit systems. It would also undermine efforts to create jobs and realize the once-in-a-generation investments in our nation’s infrastructure by the historic and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).”
 
Gas tax revenues are fundamental to the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which helps fund critical transportation programs. “Support for a gas tax holiday risks undermining funding for these efforts, which is essential for our economy’s long-term, sustained growth,” the letter stated. “The decline in revenues to the HTF also jeopardize the certainty necessary for our state and local partners to plan long-term projects and the association hiring and equipment purchasing required.”
 
The letter stressed the importance of full implementation of IIJA policies and investments as necessary for America’s long-term economic health and competitiveness: “As you [the Administration] consider options for addressing global inflationary pressures, it is critical that we do not inadvertently undermine our mutual goal of rebuilding our infrastructure systems and networks to remain competitive in a 21st century global marketplace.”
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APTA Supports Waiver Extension on Implementing BABAA Requirements
 
APTA joined coalition partners in a letter to Mitch Landrieu, senior advisor to the President for Infrastructure Coordination, June 21, thanking him for his leadership in implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and commending the Administration’s decision to impose a 180-day delay of the new Buy America, Build America Act (BABAA) requirements for construction materials included in the IIJA.
 
“Infrastructure project costs continue to climb amid rising construction materials prices and shortages. Indeed, material price increases have doubled or even tripled in some cases,” the letter stated. “Lead times for procurement and delivery of many of these materials has dramatically increased as well. As a result, many infrastructure projects across the country face the risk of significant delay or a reduction in scope.”
 
The coalition suggested that, before the BABAA requirements take effect, USDOT conduct thorough analyses of domestic manufacturing capabilities, provide sufficient opportunity for public comment on draft rules and provide adequate time for public and private entities to adjust and learn final rules.
 
“To accomplish the necessary work, the Administration should extend the 180-day BABAA waiver to ensure that, in the meantime, projects are not needlessly delayed. Rushing through this process could further drive inflation and result in significant delays to projects that will facilitate the enhanced movement of people and goods that, in turn, will help improve the nation’s constrained supply chain.”
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SPONSORED CONTENT
 
 
 
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FTA Announces $24 Million to Support Transit
 
FTA has awarded approximately $16.2 million in grants to fund 40 projects in 32 states and two territories through its Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) program. FTA awards the competitive grants to state and local governments, public transit agencies and nonprofit organizations to create better transit for residents who have limited or no transportation options.
 
“For millions of people in communities big and small, transit is a lifeline,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Every American should have a way to affordably get to work or school, buy fresh food, access medical care and visit their loved ones—and these transit grants will help make that a reality in 40 underserved communities across the country.”
 
The AoPP program supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 initiative and general goals of advancing racial equity and improving public health and the environment through transportation planning that results in new or better service. AoPP grants are awarded for planning, engineering and technical studies or financial plans to improve transit in Census-defined low-income areas. The program also supports coordinated human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services, including paratransit.
 
“Transit can be the great equalizer, but if you live in a transit desert, where options are few and far away, you don’t have access to that power,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty Program removes barriers to opportunity by increasing access to jobs, school and services for some of our residents who need it the most.”
 
 
FTA also announced awards of approximately $8.4 million to 17 projects in 16 states to improve public transportation for underserved groups—with a focus on health and wellness—under its Innovative Coordinated Access & Mobility (ICAM) Pilot Program.
 
“Transportation is a lifeline for Americans, connecting them to doctors, dentists, hospitals and other healthcare providers all over the country,” said Buttigieg. “Because of the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, today’s grants will help improve the health and lives of people in underserved communities who need and deserve access to healthcare and other essential services.”
 
The ICAM Pilot Program increases access particularly to healthcare appointments by building partnerships among health, transportation and other service providers.
 
“This program supports statewide and regional strategies to help ensure people who are especially challenged in accessing healthcare can reach the services they need,” said Fernandez. “We are so pleased to provide resources that help reach into the forgotten corners of our communities to ensure no one is left behind.”
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NTI Names New Vice Chair
Geisha EsterThe National Transit Institute (NTI), Rutgers, NJ, has appointed Geisha Ester as NTI advisory board vice chair. She is a public transit executive with more than 25 years of experience, including creating and leading high-quality, high-impact career development initiatives.
 
Ester serves as vice president of training and workforce development for the Chicago Transit Authority, where she leads operations and safety training, along with career and leadership development initiatives for more than 11,000 employees.
 
She also creates transit-focused youth development programs and oversees CTA’s high school and college internship programs, while leading the agency’s Second Chance Program, a nationally recognized program that prepares returning citizens and others with barriers to employment to re-enter the workforce.
 
Ester is a member of the City of Chicago Mayor's Interagency Reentry Council. For APTA, she is vice chair of the Education and Career Awareness Subcommittee and serves on the Workforce Development Committee and numerous other subcommittees.
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UPCOMING 2022 APTA EVENTS
 
If you missed APTA's 2022 Rail Conference in San Diego, check out highlights here! And, summertime isn't slowing down progress in the public transportation industry. Keep up to speed by participating in APTA's summer schedule of impactful, in-person events:
 
Transit Initiatives and Communities Workshop
Jul. 18-20
Explore the messages, strategies and tactics that make the difference in transit referenda as well as state and local legislative initiatives.
 
Transit Board Members & Board Administrators Seminars
Jul. 30-Aug. 2
Explore national and regional legislative issues, advocacy, ridership, transit-oriented communities, workforce development, safety and security, fare policies and more.
 
Sustainability/Operations Planning and Scheduling Workshop
Aug. 7-10
Learn techniques from industry thought-leaders on how to enhance energy efficiency, resiliency and service integration.
 
APTAtech
Aug. 14-17
Explore information technology, fare payment systems, cybersecurity and real-time open data solutions for public transportation.
 
State Public Transportation Partnerships Conference
Aug. 27-30
Redefining our communities' experiences from our shared successes, lessons, trials and tribulations will make us stronger than before.  
 
TRANSform Conference
Oct. 9-12
APTA's TRANSform Conference, the biggest industry event of the year, will open for registration soon.
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ELSEWHERE IN THE MEDIA
 
Skyrocketing gas prices drive public transit demand.
 
First look at plans for new Union Station in DC.
 
2028 Olympics could fuel public transit boom in LA.
 
CA lawmakers target harassment to make public transit safer.
 
Staunton residents welcome Amtrak riders with songs and snacks.
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