The GOP-backed 2015 Appropriations Bill would cut funding for TIGER grants, historically a friend to cities and metro areas looking for funding for multi-modal programs, and make it, essentially, a roads program.
The House Appropriations Committee released the "Fiscal Year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill" earlier this week, following last week's Transportation Department's GROW AMERICA proposal for authorization of the Transportation Bill. Tanya Snyder, reporting for Streetsblog USA, details the disappointment to be found in the bill for advocates of multi-modal transportation spending. "While previous GOP appropriations proposals have eliminated TIGER grant funding altogether, this proposal allocates $100 million for TIGER, down from the $600 million the program got this year. More horrifically, the GOP proposes to limit TIGER grants to projects that 'address critical transportation needs,' defined as roads and bridges, ports and freight rail."
"And just to be clear about what they mean, the GOP adds, 'The legislation does not allow these funds to be used for non-essential purposes, such as street-scaping, or bike and pedestrian paths.' Also ineligible are transit projects that would be eligible for New Starts or other FTA grants, carpool projects, ADA compliance for sidewalks, highway and transit safety improvements, planning, congestion mitigation, intelligent transportation systems, anything related to congestion pricing (including electric toll collection and travel demand management), or recreational trails."
As a counterpoint, the Obama Administrations proposal, released last week and assumed to be dead on arrival, would double the TIGER program. To keep the GOP Appropriations proposal in perspective—the bill is contingent on authorization guiding transportation spending for 2015, of which there is none, yet. As Snyder says: "Nothing can be appropriated that isn’t authorized."
FULL STORY: GOP Appropriations Bill Would Turn TIGER Into a Roads Program
Uncertainty Ahead for Department of Transportation Funding
While projects funded from the Highway Trust Fund are safe through May, discretionary programs run by DOT from annual appropriations must wait for Congress to approve a budget, which just got more complicated due to Obama's anti-ISIS funding request.
Takin’ it to the Streets: Streetsblog USA’s Kea Wilson Chats With The Planning Commission Podcast
The Streetsblog USA Senior Editor discusses the state of transportation in America, hopes and dreams for the infrastructure bill, and how we already have the tools to address climate change and traffic safety without electric or autonomous vehicles.
Georgia' First Bus Rapid Transit Route Wins Federal Funding
The Summerhill Bus Rapid Transit Project—on track to become the first bus rapid transit line in the state of Georgia—received a critical bath of funding from the federal government this week in the form of a $12.6 million TIGER grant.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Maine Approves Rent Relief Program
Legislators hope the assistance program will help struggling low-income households avoid eviction.
How Transit Architecture Impacts Real and Perceived Safety
More than a third of Americans believe major transit systems are too unsafe to ride. The built environment can change that.
New York Passes Housing Package Focused on New Development and Adaptive Reuse
The FY 2025 budget includes a new tax incentive, funding for affordable housing on state land, and support for adaptive reuse and ADUs.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
