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“TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE PROCEDURES FOR TEA 21 REAUTHORIZATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E215-E216 on Feb. 13, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE PROCEDURES FOR TEA 21 REAUTHORIZATION
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HON. THOMAS E. PETRI
of wisconsin
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Representative Bill Lipinski, the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines, Representative Don Young, the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Representative Jim Oberstar, the Committee's Ranking Democratic Member, I would like to outline the Subcommittee's procedure for identifying items of concern to Members as we take up the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21). This legislation authorized
$218 billion for our Nation's highway, transit, motor carrier, highway safety and research programs for 6 years and is due to expire on September 30, 2003.
The importance of the surface transportation systems to our Nation's economic health cannot be overstated. Highway and transit investments stimulate economic activity. These investments increase productivity by decreasing time spent on the road, encouraging new economic development, and increasing property values. Transportation investment generates a 6-to-1 net return on investment. The linchpin of economic vitality is free movement of people and goods. In the U.S., more than 75 percent of the Nation's freight moves on highways--an annual value to the economy of more than $5 trillion. And, for every $1 billion in federal highway and transit spending, more than 42,000 jobs are created or sustained.
Despite the gains of TEA 21, transportation investment has fallen short of what is needed. The Department of Transportation estimates that the cost to improve highway and transit conditions to optimal levels would require more than doubling our current combined federal program size to $74 billion per year. Meeting these needs will require a variety of strategies, including better use of existing systems, application of advanced technology, innovative financing, and public-
private partnerships. It is our goal to develop a bill that increases transportation investment to improve and maintain this world-class system.
Reauthorization is the top priority of the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines. In the second session of the 107th Congress, the Subcommittee held a series of 17 TEA 21 oversight hearings and received testimony from 140 witnesses. The hearings gave many interested Members, the Administration and affected groups the opportunity to testify and present their views. We would be happy to make copies of these hearing transcripts available to any interested Members.
We anticipate that the bipartisan legislation we develop this year will be based largely on the information obtained at last year's extensive programmatic hearings. As we begin the process this year, we would like to encourage Members to inform the Subcommittee about any policy initiatives that they want the Subcommittee to consider in the reauthorization of TEA 21. Members having such specific policy requests should inform the Subcommittee in writing no later than March 14, 2003.
Many Members have already contacted the Subcommittee to inquire about, or to request, specific funding for critical transportation needs in their districts. On January 8, 2003, Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar sent a Dear Colleague that included a 21-question evaluation form for consideration of projects of importance to members. This form is reprinted in its entirety below. All project requests should be submitted no later than March 14, 2003. (Please note that this is a 2-week extension beyond the original deadline of February 28th.) Such submissions should be transmitted to us via the intranet website, http://ushrtrans.house.gov, and in writing, attached to a signed letter on the letterhead of the sponsoring Member.
We will also be holding a series of Subcommittee hearings in March and April, at which time Members and local officials will have an opportunity to testify on behalf of those requests. While these hearings are intended to give Members an opportunity to present information about specific project needs and policy requests, it is not necessary for Members to testify.
We look forward to working with all Members of the House as we prepare this important legislation that will set the course for our nation's surface transportation programs.
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT EVALUATION CRITERIA COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS, TRANSIT AND PIPELINES
1. Name and Congressional District of the primary Member of Congress sponsoring the project.
2. Other Members supporting the project.
3. If the project is a highway project, identify the State or other qualified recipient responsible for carrying out the project.
4. If the project is a transit project, please identify the project sponsor (must be an eligible recipient of Federal transit funds).
5. Please categorize the project. (Check one)
Highway or bridge
Transit rail new start
Bus, bus equipment, or bus facility
Intermodal facility (passenger)
Intermodal facility (freight)
Bicycle and Pedestrian
Other (please identify)
6. Is the project eligible for the use of Federal-aid highway or transit funds under Title 23 or Title 49 of the United States Code?
7. If the project is a highway or bridge project, is it on the National Highway System?
8. Briefly describe the total project.
a. Is it part of a larger system of projects?
b. What is the total estimated cost of the project?
9. Please identify the specific segment for which project funding is being sought, including terminus points.
10. What dollar amount are you requesting in the authorization for this project or segment of a project?
11. Project Schedule:
a. What is the proposed schedule and status of work on the project?
b. What is the current stage of development of the project?
(If the project is a transit new start, please specify whether the project is in alternative analysis, preliminary engineering, final design, has been issued a record of decision, under environmental review, or already has a current full funding grant agreement.)
c. Will the requested funding for the project be obligated within the next six years?
12. Project Plan:
a. Is the project part of the State's long-range plan?
b. Is the project included in the metropolitan and/or State Transportation Improvement Program(s)?
13. Is the project considered by the State and/or regional transportation officials as critical to their needs? Please provide a letter of support from these officials, and if you cannot, explain why not.
14. Does the project have national or regional significance? Describe.
15. Has the proposed project encountered, or is it likely to encounter, any significant opposition or other obstacles based on environmental or other types of concerns? If yes, please describe.
16. Describe the economic, environmental, congestion mitigation, and safety benefits associated with completion of the project.
17. Has the project already received funding through the State's federal-aid highway or transit formula apportionments or from other Federal, State, local, or private funds? If yes, how much and from what source?
18. Has the project received funding in a previous authorization act?
19. If the project has received funding in a previous authorization act, please cite the act(s) and amount(s) authorized.
20. Has the project received funding in a previous appropriations act?
21. If the project has received funding in a previous appropriations act, please cite the act(s) and amount(s) appropriated.
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