Offices: NCSL Headquarters, 7700 East First Place, Denver, CO 80230 State-Federal Relations, 444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20001

NCSL President-Elect Testifies

about MAP-21 Implementation

Photo: NCSL President-Elect Starr testifies before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on April 25.

On April 25, NCSL President-Elect

Senator Bruce Starr (R-Ore.) told a House

subcommittee how the implementation of

the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st

Century Act (MAP-21)—the law that funds

and authorizes federal surface

transportation programs—is faring at the

state level. Starr also highlighted how

states are exploring ways to pay for

transportation projects, from gas tax

increases to sales taxes to charging users

based on the number of miles they travel.

Next Secretary of Transportation?

On May 22. the Senate Commerce,

Science and Transportation Committee

approved the nomination of Anthony

Federal News and Trends . 1 2

NCSL Legislative Summit ..... 3

States and Amtrak Costs ........ 3

Public-Private Partnerships .. 4

New NCSL Esources ............. 4

Other New Reports ................ 5

IN THIS ISSUE:

TRANSPORT REPORT

June 2013 Volume 4: Issue 4

News, Trends and Analysis Provided by NCSL’s Transportation Programs

FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION

NEWS AND TRENDS

Foxx—now mayor of Charlotte, N.C.— to

be the next U.S. Secretary of

Transportation. Foxx still must be

confirmed by the full Senate.

NCSL Analyzes Budget and CR

NCSL has released an analysis of the FY

2013 Continuing Resolution and the

president’s FY 2014 Department of

Transportation Budget for their impacts on

transportation programs and funding.

New Traffic Safety Guidelines

On May 30, the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a

new policy on automated or “self-driving”

vehicles. NHTSA also released guidelines

on April 23 asking automakers to help

reduce “distracted driving” by limiting the

functions of in-vehicle electronic devices.

NHTSA recently reported a 5.3 percent

rise in traffic deaths from 2011 to 2012—

the first year-to-year increase since 2005.

See this NCSL Info Alert for more details.

More Sandy Aid

On March 29, $1.4 billion in Hurricane

Sandy-related aid was announced for

transit agencies in the affected region.

Ben Husch

State-Federal Relations

NCSL-D.C.

202-624-7779

ben.husch@ncsl.org

Jaime Rall

Transportation Program

NCSL-Denver

303-856-1417

jaime.rall@ncsl.org

NCSL CONTACTS:

2

Senate OKs Marketplace Fairness

On May 6, the Senate approved the

Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 743), which

would allow states to require remote

sellers to collect and remit state sales tax

for those businesses with more than $1

million in annual out-of-state sales. Both

Maryland and Virginia passed bills this

year that would direct some of the revenue

gained from the Marketplace Fairness Act

to state transportation projects. The

legislation now moves to the House where

its prospects are uncertain.

Senate Approves WRDA

On May 15, the full Senate approved the

reauthorization of the Water Resources

Development Act (WRDA), legislation that

authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers to carry out water infrastructure

projects. The House Transportation and

Infrastructure committee has yet to

release its version of the legislation. See

this NCSL Info Alert for more information.

Amtrak’s FY 2014 Budget Proposal

On March 27, President Obama asked

Congress to provide Amtrak with $2.65

billion for FY 2014: $373 million in

operating support, $2.065 billion in capital

support and $212 million for debt service.

Amtrak saw its ridership grow by nearly 1

percent in the last year, and March set an

all-time single-month record.

New Vets' Transportation Program

On April 2, the U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule

to establish a new grant program that will

support transportation options for veterans

in rural areas. The program was created

as part of the Caregivers and Veterans

Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010.

International Bridge Approved

On April 19, the U.S. Department of State

granted Michigan approval for a new

bridge between Detroit and Windsor,

Ontario, saying it “would serve the national

interest.” The two existing international

connections across the Detroit River are

the busiest border crossings in the north.

Congress Avoids FAA Furloughs…

On April 26, Congress passed the

Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 to give

the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

the flexibility to use $253 million of funds

already appropriated to prevent further air

traffic control staff furloughs. Shortly

following passage, the FAA suspended all

employee furloughs due to sequestration.

… and FAA Doesn't Close Towers

On May 10, U.S. Secretary of

Transportation LaHood announced that

the FAA can fulfill its required budget cuts

under the sequester without closing 149

contract air traffic towers. The FAA faces

$637 million in sequester-related cuts.

Special Freight Panel Established

On April 15, House Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Bill

Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member Nick

Rahall (D-WV) announced a panel to

examine our nation’s freight system and

formulate a national freight plan.

Did you know?

There's been so

much federal

transportation

news lately, we

couldn't fit it all in

this newsletter!

For more details

on the latest

Congressional

activities, federal

administration

updates and

announcements

from the U.S.

Department of

Transportation

that affect the

states, check out

this May

2013 Federal

Transportation

Update from

NCSL's D.C.

team.

3

y r

It’s well-known that states are struggling to

pay for roads and bridges. This year,

states will also pick up part of the tab for

Amtrak routes within their borders.

Enacted in 2008, the federal Passenger

Rail Investment and Improvement Act

(PRIIA) required states to share costs for

short-distance Amtrak corridor services

within five years of enactment—and now

that deadline is right around the corner.

According to a recent article, 19 states

must cover such costs by October 2013 or

see routes close; most states have agreed

to pay. Continued operation of existing

state-supported routes in 15 states will

also be subject to the new requirements.

NCSL’s Legislative Summit is the largest policy conference of its kind, with more than 5,000 attendees and hundreds of sessions where you

can discuss hot policy topics and hone your legislative skills.

This year: Learn about pros and cons of new transportation technologies, how transit projects can spark economic

activity, and ways to pay for needed infrastructure.

ADVANCE RATES AVAILABLE THROUGH JULY 23!

STATES TO SHARE (MORE) AMTRAK COSTS

Did you know?

NCSL's meeting

agendas allow

you to sort the

sessions by track,

topic or NCSL

committee.

Looking for

sessions at this

year's Legislative

Summit about

infrastructure,

state budgets,

K-12 education,

jobs, pensions,

energy supply and

other hot topics?

Check out the

newly-posted

Summit agenda

here.

4

In April, Maryland enacted significant new

legislation to authorize state participation in

public-private partnerships. Including

Maryland. 33 states and Puerto Rico now

have enacted laws that authorize the state

to embark on these partnerships. Ohio and

Virginia also passed PPP-related bills this

year, while North Carolina, New Jersey and

Oregon still have bills pending in 2013

sessions. For more details, see the

searchable, online NCSL Transportation

Funding and Finance Legislation Database.

9th Annual US P3 Infrastructure Forum 2013

June 18-19, 2013 | Crowne Plaza, Times Square, New York

Reduced registration rate available to NCSL members!

The US P3 Infrastructure Forum, organized by InfraAmericas, is the premier annual

gathering about public-private partnerships for infrastructure developers, investors,

financiers, state and federal public officials and regional transportation authorities. Now in its

ninth year, the forum attracts over 350 key public and private sector participants every year.

InfraAmericas is offering a reduced registration rate for NCSL members (legislators or

legislative staff). For more information or to register, contact Kate Salkeld at InfraAmericas.

Pain at the Pump

This article in the June issue of State Legislatures magazine asks

whether gas taxes are the future of transportation funding.

Buckling Up in Front and Back Seats

Did you know most seat belt laws only cover front-seat occupants?

This NCSL LegisBrief looks at state seat belt laws and related issues.

Life on the Fast Track

Read this article to discover how states and cities are finding ways to

meet the growing demand for transit and rider-friendly communities.

MARYLAND ENACTS NEW PPP LEGISLATION

UPCOMING PPP MEETING OPPORTUNITY

Save the Date:

June 21

Free NCSL Webinar on Alternative

Fuel Vehicles!

On June 21, the NCSL Energy, Transportation and Agriculture Committee will host a free E-Learning Webinar on how state policies can help or hinder the emerging market for alternative fuel vehicles. Watch your e-mail for more details!

NEW NCSL RESOURCES

5

NEW TRANSPORTATION REPORTS

Tracking 2013 State Funding Proposals

Both the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

(AASHTO) and Transportation for America are now tracking state proposals

to fund transportation infrastructure. (As, of course, is NCSL.)

U.S. Driving Trends

Advisor Perspectives and U.S. PIRG recently released analyses of the

decline in U.S. driving activity, especially among younger adults. (For more,

see these articles in the Washington Post, DC Streetsblog and the Atlantic.)

Traffic Safety Updates

In April, the Governors Highway Safety Association reported a spike in

motorcyclist deaths in 2012, and the Texas Transportation Institute issued a

report noting that hands-free texting apps provide no safety benefit for drivers.

Transportation Options for Older Adults

A new AARP report details how transportation services for older adults and

persons with disabilities are funded, and this 50-state ITN America resource

tracks policies that aid the use of private resources for senior transportation.

The New Real Estate Mantra: Location Near Public Transportation

A Center for Neighborhood Technology report finds that residential properties

near transit keep their value better than those without transit access.

Transportation Energy Futures Study

The U.S. Department of Energy has released a study on avenues to reduce

petroleum use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation

sector by more than 80 percent by 2050.

More on Alternative Fuels and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

In April, the Congressional Research Service assessed challenges to getting

plug-in hybrids and electric cars on U.S. roads, as the Consumer Federation

of America found that many new cars already meet 2017 efficiency standards.

How to Get the NCSL Transport Report: More than 2,000 federal, state, local and private

sector transportation stakeholders receive this newsletter each month. If you'd like to get

NCSL’s Transport Report in your inbox, e-mail jaime.rall@ncsl.org with your contact details.

All our past issues are online at http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=21636.

Did you know?

NCSL has publicly

accessible,

searchable online

databases that track

bills in all 50 states

concerning traffic

safety,

transportation

funding and finance,

and other state

policy topics. Plus,

check out our newly

expanded database

of bills that aim to

improve

transportation

access and mobility

for people who have

challenges

accessing

transportation

options due to

income, disability or

age.