Today the House Appropriations Committee released a summary of the House version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009, the proposed federal stimulus legislation. The announcement says the legislation will be considered in the next few weeks.  On the transportation front, the proposed legislation includes $30 billion for highway construction and $10 billion for transit and rail “to reduce traffic congestion and gas consumption.” To put that in perspective, if all $10 billion went to the MTA it would still fund only a third of the agency’s next five-year capital program.

The highway portion will fund some of the 5,100 highway and bridge projects, totaling $64 billion, that could start construction within six months. There is no detail as to how this money will be allocated or whether it will go to maintenance or expansion projects. The highway funding could also go towards bike/ped projects, though the summary makes no mention of this. The bill language allows funding to go to projects which are eligible under the Federal Highway Administration’s Surface Transportation Program, Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program, and other programs which could fund bike/ped projects.

The transit portion will be broken down as follows:

• New Construction: $1 billion for Capital Investment Grants for new commuter rail or other light rail systems to increase public use of mass transit and to speed projects already in construction. The Federal Transit Administration has $2.4 billion in pre-approved projects.
• Upgrades and Repair: $2 billion to modernize existing transit systems, including renovations to stations, security systems, computers, equipment, structures, signals, and communications. Funds will be distributed through the existing formula. The repair backlog is nearly $50 billion.
• Transit Capital Assistance:$6 billion to purchase buses and equipment needed to increase public transportation and improve intermodal and transit facilities.  The Department of Transportation estimates a $3.2 billion maintenance backlog and $9.2 billion in needed improvements. The American Public Transportation Association identified 787 ready-to-go transit projects totaling $15.5 billion.  Funds will be distributed through the existing formulas.
• Amtrak and Intercity Passenger Rail Construction Grants: $1.1 billion to improve the speed and capacity of intercity passenger rail service.  The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General estimates the North East Corridor alone has a backlog of over $10 billion.

The package will also include $31 billion to modernize federal and other public infrastructure with investments that lead to long-term energy cost savings and $19 billion for clean water, flood control, and environmental restoration investments.