The push and pull of the appropriations process has taken a step forward as the Senate Committee on Appropriations advanced its version of a bipartisan Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Act which contains good news for infrastructure projects faced with uncertain funding.
"It is critical that we make significant investments to modernize our air traffic control systems and improve our airports, roads, railways, bridges, and ports," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who chairs the Appropriations Committee.
THUD legislation encompasses a wide variety of transportation funding programs as well as housing related programs.
"This bill provides safe and efficient travel by fully funding the FAA and by making investments in Amtrak and transit projects critical to New York," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., the ranking member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
"It also protects families, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on HUD rental and homeless assistance programs, while also investing in affordable housing."
The House passed its version of THUD on July 17, which contained a $939 million cut in HUD funding and an overall 4.7% cut in the discretionary allocation below the enacted fiscal 2025 level. The Senate version is more generous with HUD getting a $3.3 billion increase.
Infrastructure spending moved to warp speed during the Biden administration while the Trump White House has changed transportation spending guidelines.
In the Senate's THUD bill the Federal Aviation Authority nets $22 billion which is a $1.4 billion boost from current levels and the Federal Highway Administration gets $63.3 billion.
Public transit absorbed a blow in the House's version with a proposed $1.7 billion cut while U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Duffy has openly
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The transit sector, which typically funds capital improvement projects through bond sales has been reeling since the pandemic took a major bite out of farebox revenues.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is attempting to replace lost revenue via a traffic congestion pricing plan that siphons bridge and tunnel tolls paid by cars driving into New York City into the MTA.
The program has been drawing
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority was forced to raise rates by over 12% last June but in April of this year announced rates would hold steady as ridership is trending up.
The Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority which services the Philadelphia area is still struggling with 70% pre-Covid ridership levels, according to the Eno Center for Transportation.
To thwart the $213 million shortfall the Authority is considering a 21.5% fare increase and a 45% reduction in service starting next month.
The federal appropriations process is already running behind schedule as the final numbers on twelve separate bills were due on June 30. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
The bills move through each house of Congress going from markup to subcommittee approval, full committee approval, initial passage, resolution of House-Senate differences, and final presidential approval.
