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NACTO Summary of the USDOT FY14 Budget

Apr 11, 2013

April 10, 2013 – President Obama’s FY14 Budget includes $77 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation – 5.5%, or $4 billion, above the FY12 enacted level. The President’s Budget also includes a $50 billion program to provide immediate investments to highway, transit, rail, and aviation infrastructure. As part of the $50 billion, the President’s Budget includes $40 billion in “Fix-it-First” investments and $10 billion to help spur State and local innovation in infrastructure development.  In preparation for the reauthorization of our nation’s rail programs this year, the President’s Budget includes a five-year $40 billion program that sustains his vision of establishing a world-class High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail System. At $50.1 billion, the Budget also fully funds MAP-21. The Budget proposes to pay for rail and surface transportation proposals with savings from ramping down overseas military operations.

$50 Billion for Immediate Transportation Investments

The President’s FY14 Budget requests $50 billion for immediate transportation investments. This includes $40 billion for “Fix-It-First” investments, including $25 billion for highway infrastructure, $6 billion for transit state of good repair, $2.5 billion for urban and rural transit programs, $2 billion for Amtrak, $2 billion for grants-in-aid for airports, and $2 billion for cross-border transportation programs. The $50 billion also includes $4 billion for TIGER, $2 billion to encourage States and local areas to implement innovative strategies to address pressing transportation needs, $3 billion for intercity rail improvements (100% Federal share), and $1 billion to improve airports and support NextGen modernization efforts.

Federal Highway Administration

The President’s FY14 Budget requests $41 billion for highway and bridge infrastructure ($39.1 Billion FY12 Enacted).  This includes $10.1 billion for the STP (50% of these funds are suballocated to metropolitan areas), $2.3 billion for CMAQ, $1 billion for TIFIA, $314 million for metropolitan transportation planning, and $820 million for the Transportation Alternatives program (50% of these funds are suballocated to metropolitan areas). Of note the Budget includes an allowance for the next surface transportation authorization beginning in 2015. The Budget states “The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to secure these critical investments.”

Federal Transit Administration

The President’s FY14 Budget requests $10.9 billion for public transportation investments ($10.6 Billion FY12 Enacted). This includes $8.6 billion in formula grants to support capital investment, state of good repair, safety, planning, bus and railcar purchases and maintenance, facility repair and construction, and operating expenses. The Capital Investment Grant program will receive a total of $2.1 billion, which includes $151 billion in prior year unobligated balances (New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity grants).

Federal Aviation Administration

The President’s FY14 Budget requests $15.6 billion for Federal Aviation Administration programs ($15.9 Billion FY12 Enacted). This includes $9.7 billion for operations, $2.8 billion for facilities and equipment, which includes $928 million for NexGen, and $2.9 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, which is a decrease of $450 million from the FY12 enacted level. The Budget proposes to increase the Passenger Facility Charge limit from $4.50 to $8.00 and eliminates guaranteed funding for airports.

Federal Railroad Administration

The President’s FY14 Budget requests $6.6 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration ($1.6 Billion FY12 Enacted Level). This includes $6.4 billion to establish a National High Performance Rail System (NHPRS) program to support current passenger service and to improve the rail system for the future. The breakdown for this new program is as follows:

The Current Passenger Rail Service program would receive $2.7 billion in FY14. This includes $675 million to bring Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor infrastructure and equipment into a state of good repair, $300 million to States to transition State-supported routes from Amtrak to State control, $800 million to continue Amtrak’s long-distance routes, and $925 million to improve efficiency of Amtrak’s rail facilities and operations, implement PTC, and bring stations into ADA compliance.

The Rail Service Improvement program would receive $3.7 billion in FY14. The purpose of this program is to develop new passenger rail corridors, substantially improve existing corridors ($3.25 billion), as well as improve the Nation’s freight network ($340 million). The program would also support network development planning ($70 million).

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The President’s FY14 Budget requests $572 million to invest in safe motor carrier, and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operations and to reduce large truck and bus crashes, injuries, and fatalities. This includes $313 million for the Motor Carrier Safety Grants program to support investigations and interventions in States, identify and apprehend traffic violators, conduct roadside inspections, support safety audits on new entrant carriers, and ensure that technology and data are leveraged for optimum effectiveness and efficiency.

View the highlights of the USDOT FY14 Budget.