We await additional details and timelines on both passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill by the House of Representatives (approved by the Senate on August 10th), currently expected for a vote by the House on or about September 27th, and whether a $3.5 billion budget resolution bill will advance to a vote in either chamber, likely with only support from Democrats. The infrastructure bill is expected to pass relatively easily in the House, then head to President Biden for his signature, and contains substantial increases in investment for all federal formula, discretionary and competitive transit programs from 2022-2026. We encourage you to reach out to your House members over the next week to affirm that this important legislation that includes reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs and will benefit your system directly.
Initial top-line figures for the budget reconciliation bill suggest additional funds applicable for transit may be included, possibly topping tens of billions of dollars beyond levels included in the infrastructure bill and potentially resolving earmark requests that were not included in that bill, as well, but prospects for passage in the Senate, especially, are not high at this moment. Yonah Freemark of The Transport Politic shared some initial proposed details impacting transportation programs last Friday. We’ll keep you posted via the News from the SWTA Nation Newsletter, on our Twitter & Facebook pages and at www.swta.org. Please don’t hesitate to contact SWTA Executive Director directly with questions at rsampson@swta.org or 225.270.0855.
