Obama's Transportation Reauthorization Bill Leaks Out - Somewhat

A draft is circulating within the Beltway showing the president's transportation reauthorization bill. High Speed Rail is in, as is a 'Livability Program'. Goodby Highway Trust Fund - Hello Transportation Fund.

1 minute read

May 8, 2011, 11:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"A (499-page) draft of the president's full transportation bill [PDF] was obtained by the semi-underground Transportation Weekly. Although high-speed rail was completely de-funded in the last budget battle, the president's bill still provides $53 billion over six years to the program."

The new 'Livability Program' will include the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program and Safe Routes to School.

As AP reported on May 2 (LaHood betting on US transportation bill this year), Secretary LaHood announced at a conference in WV that the bill will total $560 billion. Just how it will be funded, with the President ruling out both VMT fees and gas tax increases, is anyone's guess.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 in D.C. Streetsblog

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