METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Senate votes not to move forward with transportation bill debate

Democrats voted in unison against proceeding to the 1,030-page bill, arguing they had no time to review the complicated legislation, with the cloture vote to proceed to consideration of the bill needing 60 total votes. There were indications there could be a re-vote on Wednesday.

July 22, 2015
Senate votes not to move forward with transportation bill debate

Jyothis

2 min to read


Jyothis

WASHINGTON, D.C. — By a vote of 41 to 56, the Senate rejected a motion to move forward with the six-year highway bill crafted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), reported The Hill.

Democrats voted in unison against proceeding to the 1,030-page bill, arguing they had no time to review the complicated legislation, with the cloture vote to proceed to consideration of the bill needing 60 total votes. There were indications there could be a re-vote on Wednesday, however, The Hill also reported it could be an uphill battle. For the full story, click here.

Ad Loading...

Much of the controversy about the bill involves the offsets for the general funds that would be deposited into the Highway Trust Fund, including the Mass Transit Account, to pay for programs. Total offsets were estimated to cover only about the first three years of the authorized spending, and many of those offsets were somewhat controversial, according to an APTA Legislative Update.

The Senate Banking Committee title to the bill was released as part of the larger bill, but no Committee markup was held. That portion of the bill would increase the authorization for public transportation programs from $10.862 billion in the current year to $11.797 billion in FY 2016, increasing to $13.26 billion in FY 2021.

The bill also modifies the existing Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Buy America rules. It increases the domestic content requirements for rolling stock from the current 60% to 65% in Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019, and 70% in FY 2020 and thereafter. The bill further includes language on innovative and state cooperative procurements.

More Management

An A line MTA subway car near the soon to be replaced signaling system.
Rail•by Staff and News Reports•October 23, 2026

New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project

Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.

Read More →
Turning Transportation Challenges into Opportunities
Management•by Alex Roman•October 22, 2026

Brian Dickson on Building Stronger, More Resilient Transportation Organizations

Bus Business Consultants Founder Brian Dickson discusses the leadership principles, operational discipline, and strategic planning that separate transportation companies positioned for long-term success from those stuck in survival mode.

Read More →
Groundbreaking ceremony for LA Metro's Vermont Transit Corridor BRT
Bus•by Staff and News Reports•October 22, 2026

LA Metro Breaks Ground on Vermont BRT Project

The 12.4-mile corridor is projected to serve 66,200 daily riders, reduce travel times by up to 24%, and create the nation's busiest bus rapid transit corridor.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Management•October 21, 2026

Building Stronger Leaders, More Resilient Transit Teams

Dr. Carol Parker Walsh discusses leadership development, employee retention, workplace culture, and preparing transit’s workforce for AI and automation.

Read More →
ABC Companies President and CEO Roman Cornell
Bus•October 21, 2026

Roman Cornell on ABC Companies’ Evolution and the Future of Passenger Transportation

The company’s CEO discusses carrying forward a third-generation family legacy, ABC’s continued evolution in passenger transportation, support for increasingly complex fleets, and how technology and continued investment could help operators improve uptime.

Read More →
METRO Magazine graphic with a dark blue geometric background and the headline “CATS Launches West Charlotte Microtransit Zone, Expands Services” in bold white lettering.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 19, 2026

CATS Launches West Charlotte Microtransit Zone, Expands Transit Services

The new microtransit zone connects residents to key destinations as Charlotte Area Transit System rolls out the first phase of its 2055 Transit System Plan.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
VIA Primo BRT bus riders
Bus•by Alex Roman•October 19, 2026

VIA Bus Ridership Grows 10.1% Through August 2026

San Antonio's VIA Metropolitan Transit reported the highest bus ridership growth among major Texas transit systems. Federal Transit Administration data ranked it second among the nation's 50 largest transit systems.

Read More →
New Standard Helps Transit Agencies Address Climate Risks
Security and Safety•by Alex Roman•October 19, 2026

CSA Group Releases Climate Resilience Standard for Transit, Passenger Rail

Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.

Read More →
Unifying Transit Data With AI Tools with ETA's John Maglio
Technology•by Alex Roman•October 19, 2026

ETA CEO John Maglio on Transit Technology, Innovation, and Building Agency Trust

ETA founder and CEO John Maglio explores the evolution of transit technology, the importance of reliable systems, and how stronger partnerships can help agencies improve operations and the passenger experience.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
METRO Magazine graphic showing passengers boarding a COTA bus at a downtown bus stop, with the headline “COTA Launches First Customer Experience Action Plan.”
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 16, 2026

COTA Launches First Customer Experience Action Plan to Improve Transit Service

The new plan outlines improvements to service reliability, accessibility, communication, and the overall rider experience across Central Ohio's transit system.

Read More →