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

Railby StaffFebruary 2, 2026

Chicago Region Transit Ridership Grows in 2025

The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.

Read More →
New Mobilityby StaffJanuary 30, 2026

Chicago's Pace Expands VanGo Mobility Program

The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.

Read More →
A blue and white graphic with text reading "Foothill Gold Line: Design Contract Award & 2026 Board Leadership."
Managementby StaffJanuary 30, 2026

Foothill Gold Line Board Awards Claremont Extension Design Contract to Parsons, Maintains Board Leadership for 2026

Parsons wins the $60M Claremont Extension design contract as the Foothill Gold Line board reaffirms leadership during a pivotal project phase.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Technologyby StaffJanuary 29, 2026

Houston METRO Introduces RideMETRO Fare System

The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.

Read More →
Managementby StaffJanuary 29, 2026

Valley Metro Sees Strong Ridership Growth in 2025

The agency ranked top five among mid-sized U.S. transit systems, defined as agencies with 15 million to 50 million annual trips.

Read More →
A b2x rewards logo and graphic reading "Read. Learn. Earn."
Managementby StaffJanuary 29, 2026

Bobit Business Media Launches B2X Rewards to Engage Transit Industry Professionals

The new program rewards B2B audience readers for engaging with trusted content and suppliers, earning them points toward events, travel, and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Busby StaffJanuary 29, 2026

Subway Customer Satisfaction Reaches Record High, New York MTA Says

The subway system saw increases across all key metrics, with 62% of subway riders reporting they feel satisfied with the system overall.

Read More →
Busby StaffJanuary 28, 2026

New Orleans RTA Reaches Agreement with ATU

The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.

Read More →
Managementby StaffJanuary 27, 2026

Keolis Retains Virginia Railway Express Contract

The new contract for Keolis and VRE will commence in July 2026, with the potential to expand to 15 years.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Busby StaffJanuary 27, 2026

California's OCTA Advances 2026 Initiatives Centered on Balance and Sustainability

The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.

Read More →