[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E215-E216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE PROCEDURES FOR TEA 21 REAUTHORIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2003

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Representative Bill Lipinski, 
the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit 
and Pipelines, Representative Don Young, the Chairman of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Representative Jim 
Oberstar, the Committee's Ranking Democratic Member, I would like to 
outline the Subcommittee's procedure for identifying items of concern 
to Members as we take up the reauthorization of the Transportation 
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21). This legislation authorized 
$218 billion for our Nation's highway, transit, motor carrier, highway 
safety and research programs for 6 years and is due to expire on 
September 30, 2003.

[[Page E216]]

  The importance of the surface transportation systems to our Nation's 
economic health cannot be overstated. Highway and transit investments 
stimulate economic activity. These investments increase productivity by 
decreasing time spent on the road, encouraging new economic 
development, and increasing property values. Transportation investment 
generates a 6-to-1 net return on investment. The linchpin of economic 
vitality is free movement of people and goods. In the U.S., more than 
75 percent of the Nation's freight moves on highways--an annual value 
to the economy of more than $5 trillion. And, for every $1 billion in 
federal highway and transit spending, more than 42,000 jobs are created 
or sustained.
  Despite the gains of TEA 21, transportation investment has fallen 
short of what is needed. The Department of Transportation estimates 
that the cost to improve highway and transit conditions to optimal 
levels would require more than doubling our current combined federal 
program size to $74 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 increases 
transportation investment to improve and maintain this world-class 
system.
  Reauthorization is the top priority of the Subcommittee on Highways, 
Transit and Pipelines. In the second session of the 107th Congress, the 
Subcommittee held a series of 17 TEA 21 oversight hearings and received 
testimony from 140 witnesses. The hearings gave many interested 
Members, the Administration and affected groups the opportunity to 
testify and present their views. 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 the process this year, we 
would like to encourage Members to inform the Subcommittee about any 
policy initiatives that they want the Subcommittee to consider in the 
reauthorization of TEA 21. Members having such specific policy requests 
should inform the Subcommittee in writing no later than March 14, 2003.

  Many Members have already contacted the Subcommittee to inquire 
about, or to request, specific funding for critical transportation 
needs in their districts. On January 8, 2003, Transportation Committee 
Chairman Don Young and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar sent a Dear 
Colleague that included a 21-question evaluation form for consideration 
of projects of importance to members. This form is reprinted in its 
entirety below. All project requests should be submitted no later than 
March 14, 2003. (Please note that this is a 2-week extension beyond the 
original deadline of February 28th.) Such submissions should be 
transmitted to us via the intranet website, http://ushrtrans.house.gov, 
and in writing, attached to a signed letter on the letterhead of the 
sponsoring Member.
  We will also be holding a series of Subcommittee hearings in March 
and April, 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 and policy requests, 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 that will set the course for our 
nation's surface transportation programs.

TRANSPORTATION PROJECT EVALUATION CRITERIA COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION 
   AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS, TRANSIT AND PIPELINES

       1. Name and Congressional District of the primary Member of 
     Congress sponsoring the project.
       2. Other Members supporting the project.
       3. If the project is a highway project, identify the State 
     or other qualified recipient responsible for carrying out the 
     project.
       4. If the project is a transit project, please identify the 
     project sponsor (must be an eligible recipient of Federal 
     transit funds).
       5. Please categorize the project. (Check one)

     Highway or bridge

     Transit rail new start

     Bus, bus equipment, or bus facility

     Intermodal facility (passenger)

     Intermodal facility (freight)

     Bicycle and Pedestrian

     Other (please identify)

       6. Is the project eligible for the use of Federal-aid 
     highway or transit funds under Title 23 or Title 49 of the 
     United States Code?
       7. If the project is a highway or bridge project, is it on 
     the National Highway System?
       8. Briefly describe the total project.
       a. Is it part of a larger system of projects?
       b. What is the total estimated cost of the project?
       9. Please identify the specific segment for which project 
     funding is being sought, including terminus points.
       10. What dollar amount are you requesting in the 
     authorization for this project or segment of a project?
       11. Project Schedule:
       a. What is the proposed schedule and status of work on the 
     project?
       b. What is the current stage of development of the project? 
     (If the project is a transit new start, please specify 
     whether the project is in alternative analysis, preliminary 
     engineering, final design, has been issued a record of 
     decision, under environmental review, or already has a 
     current full funding grant agreement.)
       c. Will the requested funding for the project be obligated 
     within the next six years?
       12. Project Plan:
       a. Is the project part of the State's long-range plan?
       b. Is the project included in the metropolitan and/or State 
     Transportation Improvement Program(s)?
       13. Is the project considered by the State and/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.
       14. Does the project have national or regional 
     significance? Describe.
       15. 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? If yes, 
     please describe.
       16. Describe the economic, environmental, congestion 
     mitigation, and safety benefits associated with completion of 
     the project.
       17. Has the project already received funding through the 
     State's federal-aid highway or transit formula apportionments 
     or from other Federal, State, local, or private funds? If 
     yes, how much and from what source?
       18. Has the project received funding in a previous 
     authorization act?
       19. If the project has received funding in a previous 
     authorization act, please cite the act(s) and amount(s) 
     authorized.
       20. Has the project received funding in a previous 
     appropriations act?
       21. If the project has received funding in a previous 
     appropriations act, please cite the act(s) and amount(s) 
     appropriated.

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