12.04.15

Sullivan Applauds Passage of Long-Term Highway Reauthorization Bill

Alaska Priorities Included in Bipartisan FAST Act Headed to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday evening, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) joined 82 of his colleagues in passing the bipartisan Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which provides funding for our nation’s surface transportation needs over the next five years.

“Passage of a long-term highway bill will provide Alaskans with much-needed certainty in infrastructure investments throughout our state,” Senator Sullivan said. “Building off Congressman Young’s work as a past chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Senator Murkowski’s position on the Surface Transportation Conference Committee, combined with my position on both the Environment and Public Works and Commerce Committees, we were able to secure a number of Alaska-specific provisions that will increase transportation funding for core highway programs, tribal transportation and the ferry system that are so vital to Alaska’s economic future. The bill also includes reforms to our permitting system, which will help cut through project-killing red tape and streamline regulatory burdens. This bill amounts to a big win for Alaska as it will allow us to not only address our infrastructure needs but also promote and sustain economic growth throughout the state.”

Funding for Alaska:

The FAST Act is a five-year bill that sets funding levels above the baseline in the first year. From there, the bill sets growth of the program at inflation for the following 4 years.

The bill maintains the current formula that delivers a high rate of return for Alaska.

FAST ACT APPORTIONMENT FOR ALASKA

FY16

 508,614,600

FY17

 519,117,557

FY18

 530,336,370

FY19

 542,306,359

FY20

 555,294,332

Alaska’s FY15 total was $483,955,039.

The Tribal Transportation Program:

  • The tribal transportation program has been flat funded at $450 million in recent years. This bill increases funding to $465 million in the first year and grows the program $10 million a year for the following four years of the bill.

Ferry Funding:

  • The bill increases funding for the ferry system from $67 million to $80 million a year. This translates into $18.6 million for ferries in Alaska, an increase from $18.2 million in FY15, and an annual increase of $400,000 –  $2.0 million total –over the course of the bill.

Specific Provisions:

PM 2.5 waiver for Congestion Mitigation programs:

  • Provides flexibility for transportation funds under the CMAQ program with respect to the PM2.5 set-aside for states with low population densities. This free up funding to be spent on local priority projects rather than compliance with non-attainment standards.

Land Swap in Southeast Alaska:

  • Language clarifies a 2005 statute to ensure the proper exchange of land between Alaska and the United States Forest Service. This effort included 357 easements, 231 marine access points, 126 log transfer facilities, and 19 transportation and utility corridors. The language included in the bill restores the intent of the law and will allow the exchange of all remaining reciprocal easements to continue. 

Tribal transportation program amendment:

  • Decreases program administrative expenses related to the tribal transportation program from 6% to 5%. Increases the set-aside for high-priority tribal bridges from 2% to 3%. This amendment makes the program more efficient by ensuring funds are being spent on building infrastructure in the program.

Rail Safety:

  • Provides funding for Positive Train Control (PTC) infrastructure in order to expedite PTC compliance.

Federal Freight Program:

  • The bill creates a new federal Freight Program, and Alaska will receive $80.3 million in funding over the five-year period.
  • Establishes a competitive grant program for nationally significant freight and highway projects for large projects that are difficult to complete with existing funds. The grant program will be funded with total of $4.5 billion over the course of the bill. This includes $800 million for FY16.
  • Grants will be used for highway freight projects, highway or bridge projects, intermodal or rail freight projects, or ports to increase and enhance the flow of freight throughout the country.

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