The first draft of the reauthorization bill [1] has been released. We will be putting out a full analysis in a few weeks but the basic funding picture is this:

• It's a total of $500 billion over six years

• $12.6 billion investment in highway and motor carrier safety

• $337.4 billion for highway construction, with at least $100 billion to restore the highway system and bridges in good repair.

• $99.8 billion for mass transit—funded from Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund and $12.2 billion coming from the general fund

• $50 billion to develop 11 high speed rail corridors.

Bottom Line

While funding for transit has doubled compared to the last reauthorization, funding for highway has also increased and so the overall bill does not appear to shift the traditional 80% for highway and 20% for transit.  The bill is, however, still very vague on some key details.

Stay tuned...

Congressman Oberstar chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee