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The American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, generally
referred to as the Federal Economic Stimulus
Bill, sets aside $48 billion for transportation. The
following is a general breakdown of the
Act’s various transportation allocations.
Federal
Highway Administration
The Act
provides $27.5 billion for highway
and bridge infrastructure investment.
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Funding
set-asides
($900 million): $550 million for Indian
reservation and federal lands investments;
$60 million for priority Federal-aid
primary routes; $150 million for
distribution among U.S. territories ($105
million to Puerto Rico); $20 million for
highway surface transportation and
technology training; $20 million for
disadvantaged business enterprises bonding
assistance; $40 million for FHWA
administrative expenses; and $60 million
for competitive discretionary grants to
the states for projects with completion
within two years of enactment of the Act.
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Transportation enhancement.
States must set-aside 3 percent of their
apportionment for transportation
enhancement projects.
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Distribution Formula:
Remaining funds distributed to states
using a ratio formula specified in the
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008,
based on a state’s share of apportioned
programs for 2008 versus the total
apportioned program amounts for all
states. Apportionment of funds must occur
within 21 days of enactment. Funding
priority to projects that: (i) can be
completed within three years, and (ii) are
located within “economically-distressed
areas” (42 USC §3161).
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State
Share - Use/Lose.
First 50 percent of funds remaining
after sub-allocation must be obligated
within 120 days of apportionment, with
the remaining 50 percent obligated
within one year of apportionment. Bill
provides for re-distribution of
unobligated funds to other eligible
states.
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Sub-allocation.
Thirty (30) percent of a state’s
apportionment must be sub-allocated within
the state according to the Surface
Transportation Program formula.
Sub-allocated funds are exempt from the
re-distribution requirement for states of
the first 50 percent of a state’s
apportionment.
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Federal
Share:
Up to 100 percent of the total cost.
Federal
Aviation Administration –
The Act
provides a total of $1.3 billion:
$1.1 billion in discretionary
grants-in-aid to airports, and $200
million in supplemental funding for FAA
facilities and equipment. The Secretary
shall award 50 percent of the grants-in-aid
within 120 days of enactment of the Act,
with the remaining portion awarded within
one year of enactment.
Capital
Grants to Amtrak
The Act
provides $1.3 billion for Amtrak,
with $850 million for discretionary
capital grants and $450 million for
capital security grants. Not more than 60
percent of the discretionary grants may go
towards Northeast Corridor projects. No
expenditure of these funds may subsidize the
operating losses of Amtrak, and priority
will go to projects that repair,
rehabilitate, or upgrade railroad assets.
Federal
Railroad Administration
High-Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity
Passenger Rail Service
The Act
provides $8 billion in discretionary
grants to the states for high-speed rail
corridor, intercity passenger rail service,
and congestion mitigation projects. Interim
guidance on grant terms, conditions, and
procedures due from Secretary within 120
days of enactment. Federal share is up to
100 percent of the total cost.
Federal
Transit Administration
Transit
Capital Assistance
The Act
provides $6.9 billion total in
grants, including $5.5 billion using
the Urbanized Area Formula Grants program,
$690 million using the Other Than
Urbanized Areas program (with a 2.5 percent
set-aside for Indian reservations), and
$690 million using the Growing States
and High Density formula. The federal share
for eligible projects will be up to 100
percent. The deadline for grantees to
obligate funds is 180 days after
apportionment for a minimum of 50 percent of
their funds.
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State
Share - Use/Lose.
First 50 percent of funds must be
obligated within 180 days of
apportionment, with the remaining 50
percent obligated within one year of
apportionment. Bill provides for
re-distribution of unobligated funds to
other eligible states and urbanized areas,
subject to a state or urbanized area’s
request for an extension period and notice
by the Secretary to congressional
appropriations committees justifying any
extension.
Supplemental
Discretionary Grants
The Act
provides $1.5 billion for competitive
grants to states, local governments, and
transit agencies for projects across all
surface transportation modes that will have
a significant national, metropolitan, or
regional impact. The Secretary shall
publish grant competition criteria within 90
days of enactment of the Act, and must
ensure an equitable geographic distribution
of funds and an appropriate balance between
metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
Not more than 20 percent of the funds
available may fund projects in a single
state. Federal share is 100 percent, with
priority given to projects for completion
within three years of enactment of the Act.
Fixed
Guideway Infrastructure Investment
The Act
provides $750 million for fixed
guideway infrastructure investment
distributed by formula. The deadline
for grantees to obligate funds is 180 days
after apportionment for a minimum of 50
percent of their funds. The federal share
for eligible projects will be up to 100
percent. The “use/lose” terms for Transit
Capital Assistance also applies here.
This money is
targeted at metro area subway systems and
other passenger rail systems. Vermont does
not qualify for these funds.
Capital
Investment Grants
The Act
provides $750 million in
discretionary grants to eligible New Starts
and Small Starts projects that are already
in construction or in final design stages
and could award contracts within 150
days. Vermont, however, does not qualify for
these funds. |