MAP-21 mapped out

After 33 months of wrangling, Congress finally agreed late last week on a transportation package to replace SAFETEA-LU. It's called MAP-21 -- Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act -- and will direct $105 billion worth of federal surface transportation funding for the next 27 months, through October 2014.

MAP-21 addresses multiple issues. Although there is general relief that something has been passed, not everyone is happy with the result. For summaries and perspectives, try the following:

• Easy-to-digest summary posted by a Washington, DC blogger
• Cheat Sheet part 1 & part 2 and MAP-21 Learning Center supplied by Transportation Issues Daily (TID)
• US Department of Transportation MAP-21 web portal
• Quotes from Congressional leaders (TID) about the compromise
• Joint Explanatory Statement from Congress describing the final bill negotiations
• Chart comparing final Conference Report version to original Senate and House versions (Politico)
• Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate
• The Secretary of Transportation says that "this is a good bill that will create jobs, strengthen our transportation system, and grow our economy"
• National Journal asks transportation experts whether it's "an early Christmas present or a lump of coal"
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy suggests the bill is "a step back"
• Transportation for America says it's "a clear step backwards"

More opinions and perspectives are bound to be issued in the coming days, weeks, and months as the details of the package are poured over and the implications are put into play once signed by President Obama.


What's your take?

Update on Federal transport issues

Transportation remains a hot topic of debate on the national level.

The White House released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget proposal, which includes significant implications for transportation policy and investment. The US Department of Transportation issued a press release regarding the budget proposal and the Secretary of Transportation blogged about it.

The new urbanism/smart growth advocacy group Better! Cities & Towns shared its perspective on the budget proposal: “Though hardly anyone has noticed, the proposed 2013 budget of the US Department of Transportation (DOT) promises a remarkable advance: It takes livability mainstream.”

Congress continues to debate disparate visions for transportation policy and investment in the Senate and House versions of surface transportation re-authorization.

The Transportation for America campaign provides its take on the latest developments, including the House abandoning the idea of a 5-year bill in favor of the shorter timeframe propsed in the Senate through the MAP-21 legislation.

The Transportation Issues Daily blog advocates supporting passage of the House bill, "even if you hate it."

Through a transport policy blog sponsored by the National Journal, transportation experts discuss whether we'll ever see a long-term surface transportation re-authorization.

Interesting times indeed in the word of transportation...

New Transportation package still on hold

According to this story, the White House continues to prefer extensions to SAFETEA-LU rather than take up a new 6-year transportation investment package. This isn't sitting well with Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn), Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Apparently, the Surface Transportation Authorization plan proposed by Oberstar in the spring of 2009 is in line with the administration's policies; the debate is over how to fund the investments (and how this plays out in an election year).