On Thursday, July 1, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development approved legislation to set spending levels for transportation programs for FY 2011.
The bill provides $11.307 billion for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs, an increase of $574.89 million over FY 2010 funding. Within this amount, $8.961.35 billion is provided for Formula and Bus programs, an increase of $618.18 million over last year's amount. The bill includes $2 billion for the Capital Investments Program (New Starts), and $150 million for capital grants for the Washington Area Metropolitan Transportation Authority — the same levels provided last year.
The committee did not provide funds for the TIGGER (Transportation Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction) program. The increased funding for trust fund programs is subject to enactment of future legislation that extends the current authorization, which expires on December 31, and provides increased contract authority on spending from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund.
For Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) programs, the Subcommittee provides $1.4 billion for high-speed and intercity passenger rail — $400 million more than the President's budget request for FY 2011, but $1.1 billion less than last year's level. The bill also appropriates $75 million for Positive Train Control (the Railroad Safety Technology Program), a $25 million increase over the FY 2010 amount.