[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 2 (Thursday, January 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E90]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE PROCEDURES FOR ISTEA REAUTHORIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 1997

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Nick Rahall, the ranking 
democratic member of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Bud 
Shuster, the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee, and James Oberstar, the committee's ranking democratic 
member, I would like to outline the subcommittee's procedure for 
identifying items of concern to members as it takes up the 
reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act 
of 1991 [ISTEA]. This legislation authorizes over $150 billion for our 
nation's highway, transit, motor carrier, safety, and research programs 
for 6 years and is due to expire on September 30, 1997.
  The importance of the surface transportation system cannot be 
overstated. There is ample evidence documenting the link between 
careful infrastructure investment and increases in this nation's 
productivity and economic prosperity. For instance, between 1980 and 
1989, highway capital investments contributed almost 8 percent of 
annual productivity growth. A recent study demonstrated that the costs 
of highway investments are recouped through production cost savings to 
the economy after only 4 years. Another study concluded that transit 
saves at least $15 billion per year in congestion costs.
  Despite the critical importance of our transportation systems to our 
Nation's economic health, investment has fallen short of what is 
needed. The Department of Transportation estimates that simply 
maintaining the current conditions on our highway, bridge, and transit 
systems will require investment of $57 billion per year from Federal, 
State, and local governments, an increase of 41 percent over current 
levels. To improve conditions to optimal levels would require doubling 
our current investment to $80 billion per year. Meeting these needs 
will require a variety of strategies, including better use of existing 
systems, application of advanced technology, innovative financing, and 
public-private partnerships. It is our goal to develop a bill that will 
meet these needs and maintain this world class system.
  Reauthorization is the top priority of the Subcommittee on Surface 
Transportation. In the second session of the 104th Congress, the 
subcommittee held a series of 12 ISTEA oversight hearings and received 
testimony from 174 witnesses. The hearings gave many interested 
Members, the administration and affected groups the opportunity to 
testify and present their views. There was strong interest in these 
hearings and they covered the programs which need to be reauthorized in 
this coming bill. We would be happy to make copies of these hearing 
transcripts available to any interested Members.
  We anticipate that the bipartisan legislation we develop this year 
will be based largely on the information obtained at last year's 
extensive programmatic hearings. As we begin this process, we would 
like to offer Members the opportunity to inform the subcommittee about 
any policy initiatives or issues that Members want the subcommittee to 
consider including or addressing in the reauthorization of ISTEA. 
Members having such specific policy requests should inform the 
subcommittee in writing no later than February 25, 1997.

  Many Members have already contacted the subcommittee to inquire 
about, or to request, specific funding for critical transportation 
needs in their districts. With the convening of the new Congress, we 
anticipate that these requests will continue. Therefore, if you are 
intending to request funding for these projects, we will require that 
the request include the information set forth below. Although the 
subcommittee has not yet decided how such requests will be handled, the 
information provided will allow the subcommittee to thoroughly evaluate 
each request as we determine the appropriate action to take in this 
regard. Any requests should be submitted no later than February 25, 
1997. Such submissions should be in writing and must include responses 
to each of the 14 evaluation criteria listed at the end of this 
statement.
  We will also be holding a series of subcommittee hearings in late 
February and early March at which time Members and local officials will 
have an opportunity to testify on behalf of those requests. While these 
hearings are intended to give Members an opportunity to present 
information about specific project needs, it is not necessary for 
Members to testify.
  We look forward to working with all Members of the House as we 
prepare this important legislation which will set the course for our 
Nation's surface transportation programs.

Transportation Project Evaluation Criteria, Committee on Transportation 
       and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation

       1. Name and Congressional District of the primary Member of 
     Congress sponsoring the project, as well as any other Members 
     supporting the project (each project must have a single 
     primary sponsoring Member).
       2. Identify the State or other qualified recipient 
     responsible for carrying out the project.
       3. Is the project eligible for the use of Federal-aid funds 
     (if a road or bridge project, please note whether it is on 
     the National Highway System)?
       4. Describe the design, scope and objectives of the project 
     and whether it is part of a larger system of projects. In 
     doing so, identify the specific segment for which project 
     funding is being sought including terminus points.
       5. What is the total project cost and proposed source of 
     funds (please identify the federal, state or local shares and 
     the extent, if any, of private sector financing or the use of 
     innovative financing) and of this amount, how much is 
     being requested for the specific project segment described 
     in item #4?
       6. Of the amount requested, how much is expected to be 
     obligated over each of the next 5 years?
       7. What is the proposed schedule and status of work on the 
     project?
       8. Is the project included in the metropolitan and/or State 
     transportation improvement plan(s), or the State long-range 
     plan, and if so, is it scheduled for funding?
       9. Is the project considered by State an/or regional 
     transportation officials as critical to their needs? Please 
     provide a letter of support from these officials, and if you 
     cannot, explain why not.
       10. Does the project have national or regional 
     significance?
       11. Has the proposed project encountered, or is it likely 
     to encounter, any significant opposition or other obstacles 
     based on environmental or other types of concerns?
       12. Describe the economic, energy efficiency, 
     environmental, congestion mitigation and safety benefits 
     associated with completion of the project.
       13. Has the project received funding through the State's 
     federal aid highway apportionment, or in the case of a 
     transit project, through Federal Transit Administration 
     funding? If not, why not?
       14. Is the authorization requested for the project an 
     increase to an amount previously authorized or appropriated 
     for it in federal statute (if so, please identify the 
     statute, the amount provided, and the amount obligated to 
     date), or would this be the first authorization for the 
     project in federal statute? If the authorization requested is 
     for a transit project, has it previously received 
     appropriations and/or received a Letter of Intent or has FTA 
     entered into a Full Funding Grant Agreement for the project?

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