Good news for the ITS industry from new $105 billion US transportation reauthorisation bill

RSS560 ITS America has applauded approval by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate of the conference report to HR 4348, a legislative package which includes the surface transportation reauthoriSation bill. The bill passed the House by a wide margin of 373 – 52, was subsequently approved by the Senate by a 74-19 vote, and the legislation has been signed by the President.

The legislation will fund federal-aid highway, transit, safety and related transportation programmes at current levels through the end of fiscal year 2014, totalling approximately US$105 billion. Among other top-line provisions, the legislation will:

• Ensure that ITS technologies are eligible for funding within every major formula program;

• Restore the ITS research programme from $50 million to $100 million per year;

• Create a new $62.5 million per year Technology and Innovation Deployment programme to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies;

• Establish a performance management process to improve accountability in areas including highway condition and performance, safety, congestion and air quality, and freight movement;

• Update the statewide and metropolitan planning process to promote efficient system management and operations;
• Consolidate the number of transportation programmes by two-thirds;
• Provide states with additional spending flexibility;Streamline the project delivery process; and
• Eliminate earmarks.
  

Of particular interest to the ITS Industry was a provision that would have transferred management of the ITS research programme, university transportation centres and bureau of transportation statistics to the 831 Federal Highway Administration. This provision was removed from the final conference report prior to the final votes.  For more information, check out ITS America’s preliminary summary of the legislation as well as the Joint Explanatory Statement of the Conference Committee.

“ITS America applauds Congress for passing a performance based transportation bill that will spur job creation, speed up project delivery, and ensure that ITS technologies are eligible for funding within every major programme,” said Scott Belcher, ITS America’s president & CEO.  “We are especially pleased that, at the urging of ITS America, funding for the ITS research programme was fully restored so that the 324 US Department of Transportation and its partners can continue advancing the Connected Vehicle programme and other vital ITS research efforts.”

In a separate statement, Abbas Mohaddes, president and CEO of 73 Iteris and past chair of ITS America, said, “Congress has come together at a crucial time to pass a bill that we believe significantly benefits our nation by calling for the advancement and greater adoption of intelligent transportation systems. With the passage of the bill, Congress recognises the inclusion of ITS technologies will enhance the overall return on investment and improve much needed transportation infrastructure and traffic congestion. This significant funding allows government agencies to include ITS technologies in infrastructure projects and the ability to enhance their traffic management systems. As a market leader in intelligent traffic management information solutions, we expect this to directly benefit Iteris.”