$98.1B Slated for FY2017 USDOT Work
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has shared detailed information on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s budget for fiscal year 2017 in a series of recent statements.
According to Foxx, the DOT has a budget of $98.1 billion to work with in 2017 under President Obama’s budget proposal, with $3.5 billion of that intended for expansion of transit options.
“Meeting future challenges will require a long-term vision for the transportation sector that includes more and cleaner options, and expands those options to communities across the country,” Secretary Foxx said of the full DOT budget in his Feb. 9 statement to the press. “This budget brings us closer to that vision.”
‘Beyond Traffic’
The FY2017 DOT budget takes into account Secretary Foxx’s vision—shared in his 2015 report, “Beyond Traffic”—for the DOT to help move the country, over the next 30 years, toward a transportation network that more adequately meets the changing needs of drivers, encourages innovation and adaptations to evolving technology, and provides cleaner transportation options and access to across the country.
The population of the U.S. is expected to grow by 70 million over the next three decades, creating pressures that cut across modes and infrastructure—roads, rails, aviation, ports, and pipelines, the report said.
This budget takes steps toward a modernized approach to transportation funding that acknowledges the need for a regionally focused approach and prioritizes spending on projects that will have the most benefits for the American people, the DOT’s budget fact sheet says.
In addition to refocusing the flow of federal transportation dollars to investments in regional economies, the budget gives priority to multimodal investments like transit and high-speed rail. These options are featured because they not only offer cleaner transportation alternatives but also deliver more access to opportunity, the DOT says.
Surface Transportation and More
Among the focus area for clean surface transportation options Foxx says the budget delivers full support for the funding outlined in the recently passed FAST Act, aimed at keeping surface transportation systems safe and in a state of good repair.
The budget fully funds FAST Act levels for FY2017, which include programs aimed at keeping the system safe and in a state of good repair:
The Budget also provides discretionary resources to fund air, maritime and pipeline and hazardous materials transportation activities, including:
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The budget also includes $295 million for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to facilitate the safe transportation of hazardous materials through pipelines, rail, roadway, air and waterways. |
Additional information is available in the DOT’s Budget Highlights download.
Creating ‘Ladders of Opportunity’
President Obama’s FY2017 budget recommends $3.5 billion be used to advance the construction or completion of 31 rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar projects in 18 states.
Foxx highlighted these projects, competitively funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program, in a separate statement issued the following day, Feb. 10, saying they are expected to create thousands of construction and operations-related jobs and help communities expand transportation choices that offer new “ladders of opportunity” for residents.
“Since 2009, the Obama Administration has funded nearly 100 new and expanded mass transit projects in numerous cities and metropolitan areas across the country,” Foxx explained.
“These projects transform communities, improving mobility and access to jobs, education and other important opportunities for millions of people. Public transit is an important ally in the effort to ensure that hard-working Americans are offered a chance to succeed in the 21st century economy.”
Transit Investments
According to Foxx, the FY2017 budget includes first-time funding recommendations for 15 specific transit projects:
“FTA is proud to partner with communities across the country to bring more transportation options to residents and help accommodate our nation’s growing population,” said FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan.
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The FY2017 budget recommends $3.5 billion be used to advance the construction or completion of 31 rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar projects in 18 states. |
The FTA’s CIG Program is the federal government’s primary grant program used to finance major transit capital investments that are locally planned, implemented and operated. These can include new and expanded heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar projects.
The program includes funding for three categories of eligible projects, as defined by the FAST Act: New Starts, Small Starts and Core Capacity.
Funding recommendations for FY2017 include:
