In his most recent budget proposal released on Wednesday, President Barack Obama requested $77 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) — 6% above the FY 2012 enacted levels.

The President’s budget also includes $50 billion for immediate investments to support critical infrastructure projects, such as improving America’s roads, bridges, transit systems, border crossings, railways and runways, including $40 billion in “fix-it-first” investments for improving existing infrastructure assets and $10 billion to help encourage state and local innovation in infrastructure development. The President’s budget also proposes $6.4 billion to upgrade the nation’s rail system.

Finally, the proposed FY 2014 budget also fully supports MAP-21, the transportation bill passed by Congress and signed by President Obama last summer.

In 2014, President Obama is proposing to direct $53 billion in resources toward highway, transit and highway safety programs as well as $47 billion for high-speed rail.

“This proposal fully funds MAP-21 and demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to public transportation and the role it plays in getting people to work and putting people to work,” said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President/CEO Michael Melaniphy. “The budget also proposes an additional $9 billion for critical public transit infrastructure improvements, including $6 billion for Transit State of Good Repair, $500 million for New Start core capacity projects, and $2.5 billion for Urban and Rural Transit programs. This is in addition to a continued commitment to high-speed and intercity passenger rail and a focus on livable communities. We look forward to working with Congress as it reviews the Administration’s proposal and to finding a long-term solution to the trust fund financing that supports these important investments.”

Building America’s Future also applauded the transportation and infrastructure investments in the President’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget.

“We are thrilled the President has proposed robust investments for our nation’s most pressing infrastructure and transportation needs. Programs like “Fix it First” will help boost the economy and put people back to work,” said former Pennsylvania Governor and co-chair of Building America’s Future Ed Rendell. “We are pleased that these proposed funds would also boost needed investments into NextGen, transit and intercity passenger rail.”

RELATED ARTICLE: Check out, "8 Essentials of MAP-21."