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Transcript of TRANSPORT REPORT - National Conference of State · PDF fileTRANSPORT REPORT April/May 2014...
Offices: NCSL Headquarters, 7700 East First Place, Denver, CO 80230 State-Federal Relations, 444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20001
Reauthorization Proposals Take
Center Stage
Two proposals to reauthorize federal
surface transportation programs and
funding are now on the table. Without
Congressional action, the current Moving
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act
(MAP-21) will expire on Sept. 30, 2014.
On April 29, the U.S. Department of
Transportation (U.S. DOT) unveiled its
GROW AMERICA Act, which would provide
a total of $302 billion for surface
transportation over four years. The bill
would significantly increase funding for
The GROW AMERICA Act would give federal transportation funding a more multimodal focus. Image: U.S. DOT.
highways, transit and the TIGER
discretionary grant program and expand the
federal Highway Trust Fund into a
multimodal
Federal News and Trends . 12
MAP-21 Working Group ........ 2
Century Council Renamed ..... 3
Self-Driving Cars ..................... 3
N.H. Raises Gas Tax ................ 4
NCSL Legislative Summit ...... 4
Bans on Direct Sales ................ 4
Upcoming PPP Events ............ 5
New NCSL Resources ............. 5
Other New Reports ................. 6
IN THIS ISSUE:
TRANSPORT REPORT
April/May 2014 Volume 5: Issue 4
News, Trends and Analysis Provided by NCSL’s Transportation Programs
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION
NEWS AND TRENDS
Ben Husch
State-Federal Relations
NCSL-D.C.
202-624-7779
Jaime Rall
Transportation Program
NCSL-Denver
303-856-1417
NCSL CONTACTS:
multimodal Transportation Trust fund that
also supports rail and freight. To ensure
the ongoing solvency of the Highway Trust
Fund, which is forecast to run out later this
summer, the plan would supplement
current revenues with $150 billion from
“pro-growth tax reform.” Two provisions of
particular interest to states include
removing restrictions so that states could
collect tolls on interstates to support
highway maintenance, and raising the limit
on tax-exempt private activity bonds
issued for highway or surface freight
transfer facilities by $4 billion. For details,
see the U.S. DOT’s fact sheets or section-
by-section summary. The bill is based on
the president’s FY 2015 Budget Proposal
and has been sent to Congress for
consideration.
The second proposal came on May 12,
when the Senate Environment and Public
Works Committee unveiled its bipartisan
MAP-21 Reauthorization Act (S. 2322).
The six-year bill would reauthorize many
core programs in MAP-21 and gradually
increase funding from $38.4 billion in
critical
2
NCSL at Work for You
Year-in and year-out, NCSL advocates for the
interests of states and state legislatures.
Since 2013, NCSL has sent numerous letters
to Congress regarding the proposed Water
Resources Development Act (WRDA). We are
tracking this closely as Congress approaches
the conclusion of its conference negotiations.
Reauthorization (cont. from p. 1)
FY 2015 to $42.59 billion by FY 2020. Of
interest to states are the authorization of a
$400 million per year competitive grant
program to fund projects of regional and
national significance (similar to the current
TIGER grant program) and a new American
Transportation Awards Program with the
authority to provide $125 million per year to
states that display achievements in project
delivery. The bill would also authorize and
fund a national freight program and, like the
U.S. DOT bill, re-authorize the popular TIFIA
federal credit assistance program at its
current level of $1 billion per year. Titles on
transit (Banking Committee), highway safety
(Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee) and funding (Finance
Committee) are still in development.
New Rail Rules a-Comin'
As part of the U.S. DOT’s ongoing response
to recent oil train derailments, the agency
plans to release a comprehensive
rulemaking package with options for
enhancing rail tank car standards. The
Federal Railroad Administration also intends
to issue a proposed rule requiring two-
person crews on crude oil trains and a
minimum crew size for most mainline freight
and passenger rail operations. Some of
these actions were prompted by Canadian
Transport Minister Lisa Raitt’s recent
announcement that Canada will now require
certain railcars to be phased out or refitted
within three years, prompted by a tragic
derailment in Lac-Mégantic in 2013.
Is That a Camera on My Car?
A new National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration rule will require all new
vehicles under 10,000 lbs. to have rear
visibility technology by May 2018.
Committee OKs Tax Extenders
On April 3, the Senate Finance Committee
approved the Expiring Provisions
Improvement Reform and Efficiency
(EXPIRE) Act. Known as “tax extenders,”
the bill would reauthorize a number of tax
breaks that expired at the end of 2013,
including some that promote alternative
fuels and support transit commuting. The full
Senate will take up the bill this spring.
WRDA on Tap for May?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has
approved a Nevada flood control project,
likely removing one of the last obstacles to
reauthorizing the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA). The U.S. House
and Senate both approved versions in 2013
and began conference negotiations last fall.
If approved, WRDA will provide billions in
funding for water infrastructure projects.
Federal News and Trends (cont. from p. 1)
Join NCSL’s MAP-21 Working Group!
Reauthorization of the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), due to expire on Sept. 30, 2014, is a top priority for Congress this year. MAP-21 and its successor are critical to states, providing billions in federal funding each year for transportation infrastructure. To keep NCSL members informed and involved, NCSL’s Natural Resources and Infrastructure (NRI) Committee has put together a MAP-21 Working Group. Our next call is in mid-May! If you are a state legislator or legislative staff member interested in joining the working group, please contact NCSL’s Ben Husch.
3
Just in time for Alcohol Awareness Month
in April, the Century Council officially
unveiled its new name, the Foundation for
Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (FAAR).
Since its founding in 1991, the group has
supported a number of policies and
programs to reduce drunken driving
fatalities, including revoking administrative
licenses, adhering to a zero tolerance
standard for drunken drivers under age 21,
and enforcing tougher penalties for refusing
a DUI test. “Our mission to lead the fight
against drunk
driving and
underage
drinking is
stronger than
ever,” said
Ralph Blackman, president and CEO of the
newly named FAAR. You can follow FAAR
on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. To
learn more about drunken driving, visit
NCSL’s Drunken/Impaired Driving page.
California, Florida, Michigan and Nevada
have enacted laws to allow autonomous, or
self-driving, vehicles to be driven and
tested on their roadways. In recent months,
California and Michigan reached major
regulatory milestones.
Michigan’s law, passed last December,
approved the testing of self-driving cars on
Michigan roads. In April, the state
department of transportation issued
.the first manufacturer plates under the new
law. Also this spring, the University of
Michigan approved construction of a $6.5-
million track for testing self-driving cars in
real-world conditions including merging
lanes, traffic lights and four-lane highways.
In California, the Department of Motor
Vehicles—charged with regulating these
vehicles—recently held a public workshop
to address some difficult policy questions
including safety standards.
Safety has been a top concern about
self-driving cars. For example, the
Washington Post, in light of recent
revelations from large auto manufacturers
of deadly car defects, questioned whether
similar defects would be even more
dangerous if vehicles were to rely on
complex computer technology to replace
human functions.
Roadways in many more states may be
opened up to autonomous vehicles.
Related bills are now pending in at least
Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and
South Carolina.
Michigan’s first license plates for self-driving vehicles. Source: MDOT.
CENTURY COUNCIL NOW THE FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCING ALCOHOL RESPONSIBILITY (FAAR)
STATES DRIVE POLICY FOR SELF-DRIVING CARS
Did You Know?
A host of traffic
safety topics are
commemorated in
the spring. April
was National
Distracted Driving
Awareness Month
and Alcohol
Awareness Month,
and the week of
April 7 was National
Work Zone
Awareness Week.
May is National
Bicycle Safety
Month, Motorcycle
Safety Awareness
Month and Global
Youth Traffic Safety
Month. Find
information about
distracted driving,
drunken/impaired
driving, bicycle and
pedestrian safety,
motorcycle safety,
teen drivers and
more on NCSL's
website.
4
New Hampshire will become the first state
this year to raise its gas tax when the
governor signs Senate Bill 367. The bill
increases the tax by 4.2 cents per gallon,
with the revenues to be used for roads and
bridges. Last year, six states and D.C. also
enacted bills to raise or reform gas taxes.
For details about this legislation and other
state gas tax bills, see NCSL’s
Transportation Funding and Finance
Legislation Database and the February
NCSL Transport Report.
Tesla Motors filed an appeal in New Jersey
Superior Court in April following a decision
by the state Motor Vehicle Commission to
ban direct sales of new cars by
automakers. At issue is whether Tesla (or
other manufacturers) can sell cars directly
to the consumer, bypassing the traditional
franchise model. New Jersey isn’t the only
state to ban direct sales—Arizona,
Maryland, Texas and Virginia have similar
laws. In these states, a consumer can view
a Tesla in stores, but cannot test-drive or
buy a car directly from the showroom. Car
dealers have argued that the franchise
system gives consumers choices and
drives competition since purchasers can buy
from any one of a number of dealers.
Officials in other states, however, are
working to allow Tesla to sell vehicles
directly to consumers. In New Jersey,
several bills are now under consideration to
allow exemptions for Tesla sales. Also, New
York’s Governor Cuomo recently announced
an agreement permitting Tesla to sell cars
from five licensed retail locations, and in
Ohio, the Senate recently approved a bill
that would allow for three direct-sale
locations. Washington approved legislation
in March that allows Tesla to open additional
stores in the state.
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.
Explore the agenda for sessions on traffic safety, federal transportation
reauthorization, the sharing economy, infrastructure finance and more.
Early bird rates available through June 4. Register now!
ADVANCE RATES AVAILABLE THROUGH JULY 23!
TESLA FIGHTS STATE BANS ON DIRECT SALES
Did You Know?
NCSL offers at least
25 different
e-newsletters on a
wide range of policy
topics. Browse our
online newsletter
listing to find the
issues that matter
most to you and
your state (besides
transportation, of
course!): budgets,
education,
employment, health
care and everything
in-between.
Legislative staff can
also find
e-newsletters
tailored specifically
for them. Most
NCSL e-newsletters
are available to
everyone; however,
some are available
for legislators and
legislative staff only.
NEW HAMPSHIRE LATEST TO RAISE GAS TAX
5
State legislators and legislative staff are
eligible for special registration rates at two
upcoming public-private partnership
conferences. InfraAmericas is offering
reduced rates to its 10th Annual US P3
Infrastructure Forum (June 17 – 18, 2014,
New York City), the premier annual
gathering about public-private partnerships
for infrastructure developers, investors,
financiers and public officials.
Complimentary places are then available at
the 26th Annual ARTBA Public-Private
Partnerships in Transportation Conference
(July 16 – 18, 2014, Washington, D.C.). For
details about either event, contact NCSL’s
Jim Reed.
Are Americans Making a Transportation Shift? Maybe, Maybe Not
Dig into recent statistics, and whether they indicate a sea change in
how Americans are traveling, in this recent NCSL blog post.
Sustainable State Transportation Funding and Spending
View this webinar, originally broadcast on April 24, to learn about big-
picture trends and specific state efforts to keep transportation budgets
sustainable and transparent into the future.
Distracted and Drunken Driving
Review NCSL’s updated map of state distracted driving laws, including
New Mexico and South Dakota’s new texting bans, and an updated
chart of the criminal status of state drunken driving laws.
May State Legislatures Magazine
Check out this item on state incentives and benefits for electric and
hybrid cars in the May issue of NCSL’s award-winning magazine.
Pat Downs, Protocol and Standard Operating Procedures
Read this blog post about NCSL’s day with the Transportation Security
Administration, busting myths about airport pat-downs and screenings.
Getting There: NCSL's Quarterly Mobility Newsletter
Explore the newest issue of NCSL’s other state-federal transportation
policy newsletter, which takes a closer look at state and federal
activities that help people with transportation challenges get around.
NEW NCSL RESOURCES
UPCOMING PPP EVENTS FOR NCSL MEMBERS
FREE NCSL WEBINARS!
NCSL NRI Committee 2014 Spring Webinar Series
April to June 2014
All webinars at 3 pm ET/ 2 pm CT/ 1 pm MT/ noon PT
This webinar series, sponsored by NCSL’s Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee, will cover pressing state-federal issues in the areas of agriculture, energy, environment and transportation, from transportation funding and spending to the 2014 Farm Bill, renewable energy, pipeline safety and more.
6
State Statistical Abstracts
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released its newest
state-by-state data on mileage, fuel use, drivers, vehicles, travel and more.
Partnership Financing
The Eno Center for Transportation looks at how to improve transportation
infrastructure via public-private partnerships, with policy recommendations.
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts: Distracted Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released statistics
on fatalities and injuries related to distracted driving.
Health in Transportation
Two recent FWHA reports explore the link between transportation policy
and health issues: the Health in Transportation Working Group’s annual
report and Statewide Transportation Planning for Healthy Communities.
State Gas Taxes
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy has new information about
when each state last raised its gas tax, states where gas tax rates are now
at an all-time low and which states have variable-rate gas taxes.
Survey on Millennials' Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Transit
Most young Americans prioritize access to transit options, says a survey
released by the Rockefeller Foundation and Transportation for America.
Roadway Safety Guide: A Primer for Community Leaders
This Roadway Safety Foundation report is designed to help community
leaders and elected officials improve road safety in their communities.
The End of the Road? and State Transportation Funding Plans
Transportation for America has new reports on the looming insolvency of
the federal Highway Trust Fund and state transportation funding plans.
How to Get the NCSL Transport Report: More than 2,500 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 [email protected] with your contact details.
All our past issues are online at http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=21636.
NEW TRANSPORTATION REPORTS
Did You Know?
Live webcasts or
television
broadcasts of
legislative
proceedings are
available from at
least one chamber
in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands.
Many states also
archive committee
or floor proceedings
on their websites.
Want to feel like
you're really there?
Simply follow the
links on NCSL's
website.