In this issue:
Federal Policy Update
National Brownfields Coalition is now an official coalition of Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America honors California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg with 2012 Leadership Award
Pre-applications are due February 20 for the 4th round of DOT TIGER grants
Federal Policy Update – transportation edition
The House Natural Resources Committee marked up a trio of energy bills, which are to be incorporated into the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act—the House’s transportation reauthorization proposal.
The Senate Banking Committee approved the Federal Public Transportation Act, which will become the Transit title of the Senate’s reauthorization bill.
The House T&I Committee marked up the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act. An amendment offered by Representatives Petri, Johnson and Lipinsky to restore dedicated Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School funding failed by 2 votes.
The House Ways and Means marked up a funding bill that would overturn decades of established policy by moving the transit account out of the Highway Trust Fund, leaving transit without a dedicated funding source. The resulting House bill alters a 30-year precedent in 3 ways:
It eliminates the dedication of 2.86 cents to the Mass Transit Account and shifts the revenues to the Highway Account.
It renames the Mass Transit Account the Alternative Transportation Account and requires ~$2.7B in highway programs to be funded out of the Account.
Provides a $40B one-time appropriation to support programs authorized under the Alternative Transportation Account, with yet to be named offsets.
The Senate Finance committee marked up its transportation financing bill and approved a $9.6 billion package of funding offsets for the surface transportation bill. The Highway Investment, Job Creation and Economic Growth Act of 2012 contains the funding for the Senate’s two-year transportation bill and includes an amendment that raises the maximum tax benefit for commuters who take transit to equal to the benefit for commuters who drive.
National Brownfields Coalition is now an official coalition of Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America is proud to announce a new partnership with the longstanding brownfield redevelopment advocacy partner the National Brownfields Coalition.
Both organizations are committed to brownfield redevelopment as a critical part of responsible planning, community reinvestment and sustainable growth, and the two organizations will contribute to each others work. Click here to read more about this new partnership.
Smart Growth America honors California Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg with 2012 Leadership Award
Smart Growth America presented the Honorable Mr. Steinberg with the 2012 Leadership Award on Friday, February 3rd at a ceremony at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center in San Diego. Mr. Steinberg was chosen as this year’s award recipient for this work on SB375, which integrates greenhouse gas reduction goals into California’s existing regional transportation planning process, and encourages planners to locate homes near jobs and create more transportation options. Click here to read more about the award’s ceremony and SB375.
Pre-applications are due February 20 for the 4th round of DOT TIGER grants
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the availability of funding for transportation projects under a fourth round of the popular TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant program. TIGER 2012 will make $500 million available for surface transportation projects having a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area, or region.
Pre-applications are due February 20 and full applications are due March 19. Click here to learn more.