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On Wednesday afternoon, February 25, 2009, the House of Representatives by a vote of 245-178 passed the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 1105). The massive $410 billion bill, which funds domestic federal programs for the full 2009 fiscal year, includes $10.231 billion in new budget authority for public transportation— a $740 million increase over last year’s level. The same bill will then be considered in the Senate next week. The Continuing Resolution that currently funds programs included in the Omnibus expires March 6, 2009. If enacted, the funding provided in the omnibus would be an all time high for transit. It is a 7.8 percent increase from FY 2008 for transit funding, but $106 million less than the level authorized in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
|
Program |
FY 2008 Enacted |
FY 2009 Authorization |
FY 2009 Proposed |
FY 2009 Proposed Compared to FY 2008 Enacted |
|
|
(Millions) |
(Millions) |
(Millions) |
(Millions) |
(Percent) |
|
Total All Programs |
9,491.7 |
10,338.1 |
10,231.2 |
739.6 |
7.8% |
|
Formula Programs Total |
7,767.9 |
8,360.6 |
8,260.6 |
492.7 |
6.3% |
|
§ 5307 Urbanized Area |
3,910.8 |
4,160.4 |
4,160.4 |
249.5 |
6.4% |
|
§ 5340 Growing States and High Density States |
438.0 |
465.0 |
465.0 |
27.0 |
6.2% |
|
§ 5311 Rural Area |
438.0 |
465.0 |
465.0 |
27.0 |
6.2% |
|
§ 5310 Elderly and Disabled |
127.0 |
133.5 |
133.5 |
6.5 |
5.1% |
|
§ 5317 New Freedom |
87.5 |
92.5 |
92.5 |
5.0 |
5.7% |
|
§ 5308 Clean Fuels Formula |
49.0 |
51.5 |
51.5 |
2.5 |
5.1% |
|
§ 3038 Over-the Road Bus |
8.3 |
8.8 |
8.8 |
0.5 |
6.0% |
|
§ 5309(m)(2)(B) Fixed-Guideway Modernization |
1,570.0 |
1,666.5 |
1,666.5 |
96.5 |
6.1% |
|
§ 5309(m)(2)(C) Bus and Bus Facilities |
823.1 |
984.0 |
884.0 |
60.9 |
7.4% |
|
§ 5305 Planning |
107.0 |
113.5 |
113.5 |
6.5 |
6.1% |
|
§ 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute |
156.0 |
164.5 |
164.5 |
8.5 |
5.4% |
|
§ 5320 Alternative Transportation in Parks |
25.0 |
26.9 |
26.9 |
1.9 |
7.6% |
|
§ 5335 National Transit Database |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
0.0 |
0.0% |
|
§ 5339 Alternatives Analysis |
24.7 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
0.3 |
1.2% |
|
§ 5309(m)(2)(A) New Starts |
1,569.1 |
1,809.3 |
1,809.3 |
240.2 |
15.3% |
|
Research Total |
65.4 |
69.8 |
67.0 |
1.6 |
2.5% |
|
§ 5313(a) TCRP |
9.3 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
0.7 |
7.5% |
|
§ 5315 National Transit Inst. |
4.3 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
0.0 |
0.0% |
|
§ 5314 National Research |
44.8 |
48.5 |
45.7 |
0.9 |
2.1% |
|
§ 5506 University Centers |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
0.0 |
0.0% |
|
FTA Operations |
89.3 |
98.5 |
94.4 |
5.1 |
5.7% |
Formula and Bus Programs. The transit title of the omnibus bill would provide $8.26 billion for formula and bus programs, $100 million less than the authorized level. Preliminary analysis of the transit title indicates that the $100 million cut from the authorized level would come from the discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities program. Despite the cut, the bill provides an increase of $60.9 million over the FY 2008 level for Bus and Bus Facilities. The omnibus directs $239 million of the discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities funds to more than 300 specific bus projects.
New Starts/Small Starts Program funds. The New Starts/Small Starts Capital Investment Program would receive $1.81 billion in the omnibus bill, a $240 million increase over last year’s level. This number is equal to the SAFETEA-LU authorized level. Of this total, $1.79 billion is directed to identified New Starts and Small Starts projects.
Research Grants. $67 million would be appropriated for research and the university research centers. The $2.8 million shortfall from the level of funding authorized in SAFETEA-LU is reflected in the appropriations for the national research programs; all other programs are funded at SAFETEA-LU authorized levels. This is a $2.6 million increase over FY 2008 appropriated levels.
Intercity Passenger Rail. States would receive $90 million for capital assistance for intercity passenger rail service, a growth of $60 million from FY 2008 levels.
Amtrak. The amount appropriated for the operations, capital improvements and debt service of Amtrak is $1.49 billion, $165 million more than the amount appropriated in FY 2008.
Federal Highway Program. The bill provides $40.7 billion for Federal Aid Highways. This amount is $500 million less than the obligation limitation set by SAFETEA-LU.
Other provisions. The omnibus also includes language again this year that allows for up to a 90 percent federal share for grants for biodiesel buses and for the net capital cost of factory-installed or retrofitted hybrid electric buses under the Bus and Bus Facilities Program (as opposed to the standard 80 percent). Additionally, $1.4 million would be appropriated for additional staff at the Federal Railroad Administration to implement the requirements of the Rail Safety and Improvement Act of 2008.