MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013
The nation's beleaguered bridges, pipelines, roads, rail systems, ports, airports, maritime operations and transit systems could begin upgrades in FY 2014, if President Obama's $77 billion budget request for the U.S. Department of Transportation is approved.
The President's Fiscal Year 2014 budget request for DOT—a 6 percent increase over enacted 2012 levels—includes a $50 billion program to provide immediate transportation investment.
The budget includes funding for Obama's "Fix it First" plan and public-private "Partnership to Rebuild America," both introduced in his 2013 State of the Union Address.
"These resources will fund needed investments in our vital transportation systems while at the same time creating jobs and strengthening our nation’s economy," DOT said in its budget announcement Thursday (April 11).
Highlights of the budget proposals follow, and links for individual agency budget requests are available below.
Federal Highway Administration
The FY 2014 budget request for the FHWA is $41 billion, which reflects funding levels in MAP-21, the first long-term surface transportation reauthorization since 2005.
The national highway system, a 220,000-mile network of roads and interstates, would see $21.9 billion for construction of new facilities and ensure that investments in highway projects support the progress of state asset management plans' performance targets, officials said.
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| Texas A&M Transportation Institute |
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The Federal Highway Administration is seeking $41 billion, including $25 billion for highway infrastructure. |
Flexible funding in the amount of $10.1 billion would be used for improving conditions on federal-aid highways, bridge projects on any public road, non-motorized transportation facilities, transit capital projects, and public bus terminals and facilities. The program allows transportation agencies to target funds toward state or local priorities.
Other requested funding includes:
Fix It First
The budget includes $40 billion for “Fix-It-First” investments to improve the existing transportation infrastructure.
Out of that amount, $25 billion is for critical highway infrastructure, including federal-aid highways, bridges on public roads, and other federal, tribal and territorial roads and bridges.
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| NYS DOT |
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The President is proposing a $40 billion Immediate Transportation Investments program aimed at reducing the backlog of deferred infrastructure maintenance. |
A total of $9 billion for critical transit infrastructure improvements includes:
Current passenger rail services, namely Amtrak; grants-in-aid for airports; and cross-border transportation will each see $2 billion.
The remaining $10 billion will invest in “reform through competition,” including:
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
The FY 2014 budget requests $255.3 million, an increase of $54.1 million above the FY 2012 enacted funding, for proposed technological enhancements and upgrades that PHMSA needs to meet requirements of two laws Obama signed in 2012.
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| NKK |
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The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has requested $255.3 million, including additional funds for federal pipeline inspectors.   |
Included in the request is $155.1 million for pipeline safety, $51.8 million for hazardous materials safety, $28.3 million for emergency preparedness grants, and $20.2 million for the agency’s administrative operational expenses.
FAA, FTA, Rail
Budget requests for the Federal Aviation Administration total $15.6 billion to support current programs in the areas of air traffic controller and safety staffing, research and development, and capital investment, as well as modernizing the air traffic system.
A budget request of $10.9 billion for the Federal Transit Administration would be used for grants to construct new public transit systems, oversee transit safety, buy and maintain vehicles and equipment, support planning efforts, and improve technology and service methods.
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| U.S. Merchant Marine Academy |
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The budget request for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy includes $11.1 million for maintenance and repair of training ships. |
The Federal Railroad Administration would see $6.6 billion to implement a multi-year, high-speed and intercity passenger rail program. For FY 2014, FRA proposes reauthorizing safety and development assistance programs and establishing a National High Performance Rail System program.
Other Agencies
Budget estimates for all other DOT agencies are available at the links below.
Tagged categories: Airports; Bridges; Department of Transportation (DOT); Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); Federal Railroad Administration; Government; Government contracts; Maintenance programs; Marine; Mass transit; Pipelines; Program/Project Management; Rail; Roads/Highways; Transportation
