U.S. House approves FY 2021 U.S. Department of Transportation funding

Key Takeaways

On July 31, the U.S. House cleared H.R. 7617 – a $1.3 trillion FY 2021 appropriations package that combined six of the twelve annual spending bills – along a mostly party-line vote of 217-197. The U.S. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) appropriations bill was included as part of the package, which sets annual spending for the nation’s transportation infrastructure and transit systems. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) appropriations are dedicated to federal programs covering aviation, highways and highway safety, public transit, rail, maritime safety, pipelines and other related activities important to counties.

The bill includes $107.2 billion in total budgetary resources for DOT, representing an increase of $21.1 billion above FY 2020 enacted levels. To support the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the bill would also provide an additional $26 billion for DOT programs. Highlighted below is a summary of DOT funding levels:

HIGHWAY FUNDNING

• BUILD Grant Program: The bill would provide $1 billion for the BUILD discretionary grant program, level funding compared to FY 2020.
• Federal Highway Administration: The bill would provide $62.9 billion, an increase of $14.7 billion above FY 2020 levels.
  • Highway Trust Fund: The bill would provide $61.9 billion for programs funded from the Highway Trust Fund.
  • Surface Transportation Block Grants: The bill would provide $632.2 million in flexible funding to states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations for surface transportation projects.
  • Grade-Crossing Competitive Grants: The bill would provide $50 million in competitive grants to improve the safety of highway-rail grade crossings.
• Additional Relief Funding:
  • $3 billion for the BUILD Grant Program

RAIL AND TRANSIT FUNDING

• Federal Transit Administration: The bill would provide $18.9 billion, an increase of $5.5 billion above FY 2020 levels.
  • Transit Formula Grants: The bill would provide $15.9 billion to help communities build, maintain and ensure the safety of mass transit systems.
  • Capital Investment Grants: The bill would provide $2.2 billion for rail or other fixed guideway transit systems.
  • Transit Infrastructure Grants: The bill would provide $510 million for passenger bus and ferry transit and innovative mobility projects.
  • Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Grant Program: The bill would provide $500 million for the CRISI Grant Program, an increase of $175 million above FY 2020 levels.
  • Amtrak: The bill would provide $2.05 billion in subsidies for Amtrak to support operations and capital activities
• Additional Relief Funding:
  • $5 billion for the CRISI Grant Program
  • $8 billion for Amtrak
  • $5 billion for Capital Investment Grants

AVIATION FUNDING

• Federal Aviation Administration: The bill would provide $18.1 billion, an increase of $522 million above FY 2020 levels.
  • Airport Improvement Grants: The bill would prove $500 million to construct and improve airport infrastructure.
  • Aviation Safety: The bill would provide $1.5 billion to improve flight safety.
• Additional Relief Funding:
  • $500 million for FAA Facilities and Equipment
  • $2.5 billion for FAA Grants-in-Aid for Airports

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAMS

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The bill would provide $1.3 billion, an increase of $207 million above FY 2020 levels.
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: The bill would provide $25.7 million, an increase of $1.5 million above FY 2020 levels.
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: The bill would provide $886 million, an increase of $207 million above FY 2020 levels.

MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE

• Maritime Administration: The bill would provide $1.2 billion, an increase of $197.3 million above FY 2020 levels.
  • Port Infrastructure Development Program: The bill would provide $300 million for infrastructure projects that extend or connect ports to highways or rail transit systems.
  • Small Shipyard Grants: The bill would provide $20 million to support small shipyard projects that make capital and related improvements or that expand workforce training.
• Additional Relief Funding:
  • $125 million for Maritime Administration Operations and Training
  •  $345.5 million for State Maritime Academy Operations
  • $100 million for Assistance to Small Shipyards
  • $1 billion for Port Infrastructure Development Program

Across the Capitol, Senate appropriators have yet to release funding levels for any of the annual twelve spending bills. Further complicating a path forward is the looming September 30, 2020 deadline, after which FY 2020 funds will expire, on-top of ongoing negotiations around a fifth COVID-19 relief package. This will likely set up the need for a Continuing Resolution that will provide a stopgap solution while talks between lawmakers continue.  

NACo will continue to engage with House and Senate appropriators to ensure necessary funding for key county transportation programs and will work to ensure that a final package reflects the needs and priorities of America’s counties.