Senate Appropriations Committee Issues Report on DOT, HUD, Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2018 (Part 4 of 8)
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The
NHTSA's mission is to reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. To accomplish these goals, NHTSA establishes and enforces safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, investigates safety defects in motor vehicles, and conducts research on driver behavior and traffic safety. NHTSA provides grants and technical assistance to State and local governments to enable them to con- duct effective local highway safety programs. Together with State and local partners, NHTSA works to reduce the threat of drunk, impaired, and distracted driving, and to promote policies and de- vices with demonstrated safety benefits including helmets, child safety seats, airbags, and graduated license. NHTSA establishes and ensures compliance with fuel economy standards, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations, and provides consumer information on a variety of motor vehicle safety topics.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
These programs support traffic safety programs and related research, demonstrations, technical assistance, and national leadership for highway safety programs conducted by State and local governments, the private sector, universities, research units, and various safety associations and organizations. These highway safety programs emphasize alcohol and drug countermeasures, vehicle occupant protection, traffic law enforcement, emergency medical and trauma care systems, traffic records and licensing, State and community traffic safety evaluations, protection of motorcycle riders, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, pupil transportation, distracted driving prevention, young and older driver safety, and improved accident investigation procedures.
OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee provides
Autonomous Vehicles.--The Committee recommendation includes
The Committee is also concerned that low-level automated vehicles could lead to complacent and unresponsive drivers. The Committee encourages NHTSA to include guidance on driver education and advance driver notification specifications for low-level automated vehicles in the next update of the Federal Automated Vehicles Policy.
The Committee is also concerned about the impact of advanced driver automation systems on driver cognition, specifically driver fatigue and situational awareness. The Committee directs NHTSA to work collaboratively with industry and academia to conduct research on the relationship between driver automation technologies and cognitive response. Since several automation systems with near-term deployment opportunity involve commercial vehicles, the Committee recommends this research initially focus on the trucking industry and include real-world simulation on closed test tracks where possible.
The Committee is also concerned about the impacts of highly automated vehicles on the economy and labor market for professional drivers. GAO has initiated a study on the labor displacement impact, but while that study is being conducted, coordination between DOT and the
Plastics and Polymer Composite Materials.--The Committee recognizes the importance that plastics and polymer-based composite materials play in reducing vehicle weight. They provide vehicle manufacturers with innovative tools to reduce fuel consumption and, by association, vehicle emissions. As manufacturers plan for future fleets, composite materials offer benefits for meeting new targets established under NHTSA's vehicle fuel efficiency rules. At the same time, the Committee recognizes that composite manufacturing is a new and growing industry, providing highly skilled jobs in the automotive industry. The Committee directs NHTSA to use funding provided for the Fuel Economy program to accelerate the advancement of plastic and polymer composites, including testing and evaluation techniques, while validating the safety performance of polymer-based composites in structural applications for the automotive industry. This research will help facilitate a foundation of cooperation between DOT, the
Impaired Driving.--The Committee remains concerned about the increasing rates of impaired driving, particularly in States that adopt measures to decriminalize marijuana. The use of marijuana before or while driving is a critical public safety issue and the Committee directed NHTSA in Senate Report 114-253 to conduct a study of marijuana-impaired driving. The Committee recognizes the importance of impaired driving countermeasures at the community level in protecting public safety, and encourages NHTSA to expand its efforts with law enforcement to increase awareness and use of Drug Recognition Expert [DRE] and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement [ARIDE] training, particularly in States that have adopted recreational or medicinal marijuana laws. In order to further efforts to provide law enforcement with advanced training and skills to detect impaired driving, the Committee directs NHTSA to encourage and work with States to use impaired driving countermeasures grants and funds transferred to section 402 grants through the transfer authority in 23 U.S.C. 405(a)(8) for DRE and ARIDE training.
The Committee further directs the Department to conduct a national survey, in partnership with one or more qualified universities, to examine and understand the behavioral factors that influence a driver's willingness to drive while impaired. The survey shall be based on a standard definition of traffic safety culture that can be operationalized to predict the intention to drive impaired. Analyses guided by this model would inform local and regional safety programs to achieve a sustainable reduction in impaired driving, and will support our Nation's goal to achieve zero traffic fatalities.
Tire Efficiency.--The FAST Act includes three tire-related provisions under section 24331, the "Tire Efficiency, Safety, and Registration Act of 2015'' or the "TESR Act''. The provisions will contribute significantly to consumer safety, vehicle fuel economy and the competitiveness of the
Drunk Driving Prevention.--NHTSA has partnered with leading automobile manufacturers in the
Drunk Driving Fatalities.--The Committee is concerned about increasing rates of impaired driving and the increase in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities on our highways. Crashes on
Child Hyperthermia Prevention.--The Committee continues to recognize the severe child safety crisis involving children left alone in motor vehicles who succumb to hyperthermia, and has favorably cited the awareness programs conducted by NHTSA. In the 19 years since records have been maintained, more than 700 children, mostly 3 years old or younger, have died in this tragic way. While progress was seen in 2014 and 2015, there were 39 deaths in 2016, and several children have already died early in 2017. The Committee directs NHTSA to continue and expand its public education and outreach efforts on child hot car death prevention through a public call to action encouraging public messaging and involvement from a broad group of organizations, government agencies, medical professionals and others who regularly interact with parents and the public. The campaign should focus on parents and caregivers who transport children, and also to encourage bystanders to take action when they see children alone in cars. The Committee urges the campaign commence earlier in the year compared to prior campaigns. In addition to public awareness, the Committee urges NHTSA to continue to pursue technological solutions that can serve as a reminder to parents to remove children from the rear seat prior to leaving their vehicle in coordination with industry. The Committee is aware that NHTSA published a study of unattended child reminder warning technology in
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANTS
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
Limitation, 2017........................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 597,629,000
Committee recommendation................................ 597,629,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The most recent surface transportation authorization, the FAST Act, reauthorizes the section 402 State and community formula grants, the high visibility enforcement grants, and the consolidated National Priority Safety Program which consists of occupant protection grants, State traffic safety information grants, impaired driving countermeasures grants, distracted driving grants, motorcycle safety grants, State graduated driver license grants, and nonmotorized safety grants.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a limitation on obligations and authority to liquidate an equal amount of contract authorization of
The Committee continues to recommend prohibiting the use of section 402 funds for construction, rehabilitation or remodeling costs, or for office furnishings and fixtures for State, local, or private buildings or structures.
The authorized funding for administrative expenses and for each grant program is as follows:
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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
Section 140 makes available
Section 141 exempts obligation authority, made available in previous public laws, from limitations on obligations for the current year.
The
SAFETY AND OPERATIONS
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 199,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 210,000,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Safety and Operations account provides support for FRA rail safety activities and all other administrative and operating activities related to staff and programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recognizes the importance of taking a holistic approach to improving railroad safety and supports a comprehensive strategy of data-driven regulatory and inspection efforts, proactive approaches to identify and mitigate risks, and strategic capital investments in order to improve safety.
The Committee recommends
Positive Train Control.--The Committee is encouraged by the efforts of commuter railroads to develop and implement positive train control [PTC] and encourages the Department to make certification a priority and to provide the necessary technical assistance to commuter railroads as they move toward full implementation. The Committee remains concerned that implementation of PTC may be slowed or impaired by conflicting government requirements at the Federal, State, and local levels with regards to permits and historical and environmental preservation requirements. In order to implement PTC in as timely a manner as possible to meet the deadline for implementation on
Bench Test Equipment.--The Committee recognizes the crucial role test equipment plays in rail safety and encourages FRA to adopt standardized Bench Test Equipment [BTE] to replace numerous legacy and aging test and diagnostic equipment. Standardization on proven performance verification methods could provide increased safety for the traveling public, shorter schedules for new technology deployments, such as PTC or communications-based train control, reduce down time related to faulty systems, and reduce or eliminate serious accidents. Therefore, the Committee encourages DOT to work with the private sector to perform an extended business case analysis supporting standardized performance verification and diagnostics for safety critical electronics systems. The study should involve DOT and local transit authorities implementing an interoperable open architecture BTE. Similar efforts have proven successful in reducing overall cost while increasing safety when sponsored by the FAA and the
RAILROAD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 39,100,000
Committee recommendation................................ 40,100,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of
RAILROAD REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT FINANCING PROGRAM
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing [RRIF] program was established by Public Law 109-178 to provide direct loans and loan guarantees to State and local governments, Government-sponsored entities, and railroads. Credit assistance under the program may be used for rehabilitating or developing rail equipment and facilities.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommendation removes the restriction on using Federal funds to pay for the credit risk premium for RRIF loans and directs the Secretary to identify potential sources of Federal funding for the CRP to potential applicants. The Committee directs FRA to continue to provide a summary of loan activity for the preceding fiscal years in its fiscal year 2019 budget justification. At a minimum, FRA should detail the number of loans pending and issued, and the processing time for these loans.
Credit Risk Premium.--The original authorization of the RRIF program required the Department to return the credit risk premium [CRP], and interest accrued thereon, to borrowers once the corresponding loan was repaid and all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have been satisfied. Returning the CRP could allow borrowers to reinvest their own funds for critical improvements to railroad infrastructure across the Nation. To date, DOT has not returned any CRP to borrowers that have repaid their loans because the Department has not clarified its definition of cohorts. The Committee directs the Secretary to define cohorts on a fiscal year basis, consistent with virtually every loan or loan guarantee program in the Federal government. The Committee further directs the Secretary to define each cohort as the RRIF loans provided for that fiscal year, creating individual fiscal year cohorts for each fiscal year in which a loan was provided from the date of enactment of Public Law 105-178 to the date of enactment of Public Law 114- 94. The Committee also directs the Secretary not to treat the repayment of a loan after the date of enactment of Public Law 114-94 as precluding, limiting, or negatively affecting the satisfaction of the obligation of its cohort for a fiscal year prior to Public Law 114-94. The Committee directs the Secretary to repay the CRP to applicants in a timely manner, if applicable, or to provide a written explanation within 90 days of enactment of this act to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations explaining why the CRP for loans that have been repaid should not be returned to the borrower.
CONSOLIDATED RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS GRANTS
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 25,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 92,547,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements [CRISI] Grants provide support for projects authorized in section 11301 of Public Law 114-94.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP FOR STATE OF GOOD REPAIR GRANTS
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 25,945,000
Committee recommendation................................ 26,000,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT GRANTS
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 5,000,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Restoration and Enhancement Grant program provides support for operating assistance and capital investments to initiate, restore, or enhance intercity passenger rail service.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
THE
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 760,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,600,000,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a total appropriation of
Budget, and Business Plan.--The Committee continues to direct Amtrak to submit a business plan in accordance with section 11203(b) of Public Law 114-94 for fiscal year 2018. The Corporation shall continue to submit a budget request for fiscal year 2019 to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in similar format and substance to those submitted by executive agencies of the Federal Government.
FRA
Food and Beverage.--Since 2015, the Committee has required Amtrak to report on its savings initiatives, and the FAST Act formalized this planning and implementation process providing specific requirements to eliminate operating losses associated with providing food and beverage services on board Amtrak trains by 2020. The Committee urges Amtrak to continue to take actions, such as increasing cashless transactions, continuing to reduce labor costs, and expeditiously beginning the third party contracting pilot, that would allow it to produce a net loss of zero on its food and beverage services ahead of the FAST Act deadline. The Committee directs Amtrak to provide a report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than 120 days after enactment of this act comparing the actual fiscal year 2017 savings with Amtrak projections.
NORTHEAST CORRIDOR GRANTS TO THE
The Committee recommends
Northeast Corridor.--The Committee commends Amtrak's commitment to making important capital improvements, particularly along the Northeast Corridor. Superstorm Sandy caused serious damage to the current Amtrak Hudson River Tunnels, necessitating their replacement in less than 20 years. Without the completion of the
NATIONAL NETWORK GRANTS TO THE
The Committee recommends
Gulf Coast Rail Service.--Section 11304 of the FAST Act required the
The GCWG report also highlights potential sources of Federal funding for restoration of
Long-Distance Routes.--Long-distance routes provide much needed transportation access for 4.7 million riders in 325 communities in 40 States. Providing diversified transportation options is important to the growth of the Nation's economy, especially in rural areas where options are limited. The budget request includes a proposal to terminate all long-distance service. Rather than saving money, the proposal would actually increase costs for Amtrak in fiscal year 2018 by
Passenger Rail in the
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Section 150 limits overtime payments to employees at Amtrak to
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Under the Committee recommendations, a total program level of
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ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 110,795,000
Committee recommendation................................ 113,165,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Administrative expenses fund personnel, contract resources, in- formation technology, space management, travel, training, and other administrative expenses necessary to carry out FTA's mission to support, improve, and help ensure the safety of public transportation systems.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a total of
Project Management Oversight [PMO] Activities.--The Committee directs FTA to continue to submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations the quarterly PMO reports for each project with a full funding grant agreement.
Full Funding Grant Agreements [FFGAs].--Section 5309(k) of title 49, U.S.C. requires that FTA notify the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, as well as the
The Committee also directs FTA to inform the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in writing 30 days before approving schedule, scope, or budget changes to any FFGA. Correspondence relating to all changes shall include any budget revisions or pro- gram changes that materially alter the project as originally stipulated in the FFGA, including any proposed change in rail car procurement.
The Committee directs FTA to continue to provide a monthly Capital Investment Grant program update to the House and Sen- ate Committees on Appropriations, detailing the status of each project. This update should include anticipated milestone schedules for advancing projects, especially those within 2 years of a proposed FFGA. It should also highlight and explain any potential cost and schedule changes affecting projects.
Staffing Levels.--The Committee provided funding for new safety-critical positions in fiscal year 2017 for office of Transit Safety and Oversight [TSO] in order to provide the necessary oversight of
Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility.--The Committee directs the
FORMULA GRANTS
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORITY)
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Communities use Formula Grants funds for bus and railcar purchases, facility repair and construction, maintenance, and where eligible, planning and operating expenses. The Formula Grants account includes funding for the following programs: transit-oriented development; planning programs; urbanized area formula grants; enhanced mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities; a pilot program for enhanced mobility; formula grants for rural areas; public transportation innovation; technical assistance and workforce development, including a national transit institute; a bus testing facility; the national transit database; state of good repairs grants; bus and bus facilities formulas grants; and growing States and high-density States formula grants. Set-asides from formula funds are directed to a grant program for each State with rail systems not regulated by the
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends limiting obligations in the transit formula and bus grants account in fiscal year 2018 to
DISTRIBUTION OF OBLIGATION LIMITATION AMONG MAJOR CATEGORIES OF FORMULA GRANTS
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Population Loss.--The Committee recognizes the financial constraints placed on local communities and transit operators who have lost their urbanized area [UZA] formula funds as a direct result of a hurricane or other major disaster. In the interest of protecting local communities and transit operators from any additional burdens in the wake of a major disaster, the Committee directs FTA to explore ways to ensure that the impact to local communities and transit operators affected by major disasters are minimalized, including potential guidance to prevent a loss of formula funds from a population drop directly related to such major disaster.
Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program.--The Committee supports the FAST Act's inclusion of competitive grants in the buses and bus facilities grant program and encourages FTA to follow the guidance set forth in the FAST Act when developing selection criteria for the program. Consistent with section 3017 of the FAST Act, the age and condition of buses, bus fleets, related equipment, and bus-related facilities should be the primary consideration for selection criteria.
Improving Rural Transit Access.--The Committee recognizes the importance of ensuring safe, private transportation is made avail- able for seniors and people who do not drive, especially in small and rural communities where distance and low population density make traditional mass transportation difficult. The efficiencies of information management can help to provide on-demand transportation services and bring together underutilized private transportation capacity through ride share, car share, volunteer transport, and private community transport. The Committee encourages FTA to consider innovative transportation networks that leverage community volunteerism and private resources in various forms to access underutilized private transportation capacity to promote inclusive community mobility and provide transportation for seniors and disadvantaged populations in small and rural communities. Further, the Committee supports the capacity of consumers to plan their travel safely, independently, and reliably through a variety of techniques and tools.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS
Appropriations, 2017....................................
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 1,232,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,132,910,000
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Under the Capital Investment Grants [CIG] program, FTA provides grants to fund the building of new fixed guideway systems or extensions and improvements to existing fixed guideway systems. Eligible services include light rail, rapid rail (heavy rail), commuter rail, and bus rapid transit. The program includes funding for four categories of eligible projects authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5309, and section 3005(b) of the FAST Act: New Starts, Small Starts, Core Capacity, and Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program. New Starts are projects with a Federal share under this section of at least
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends
Project Pipeline.--In addition to providing funding for this program for the projects described above, the Committee directs the Secretary to continue to advance eligible projects into project development and engineering in the capital investment grant evaluation, rating, and approval process pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5309 and section 3005(b) of the FAST Act in all cases when projects meet the statutory criteria. The Committee also directs the Secretary to provide notice to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of not less than 90 days prior to altering or rescinding any rule, circular or guidance relating to the evaluation, rating and approval process pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5309.
Annual Report on Funding Recommendations.--The Committee directs the Secretary to submit the fiscal year 2019 annual report on funding recommendations required by 49 U.S.C. 5309(o), and directs the Secretary to maintain the Federal Government funding commitments for all existing grant agreements and identify all projects with a medium or higher rating that anticipate requesting a grant agreement in fiscal year 2019.
Increasing Costs of Transit Projects.--Not later than 9 months after the enactment of this act, the GAO shall report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations regarding the construction costs of transit capital projects in
Continues with Part 5 of 8
Senate Appropriations Committee Issues Report on Departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2018 (Part 5 of 7)
CBO Issues Cost Estimate for Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic Care Act
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