Congress Enacts Short-term Extension of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); House Passes Second Economic Stimulus Bill with $8.4 Billion for Transit and Extension of SAFETEA-LU Through September 30, 2010

The Jobs for Main Street Act renews a provision made available through an amendment to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in July that enables grant recipients to use up to 10 percent of their formula apportionment (those funds received through the provisions of the Jobs Act) for operating costs or for eligible activities under section 5311(f).

Most importantly, the bill provides for a further extension of SAFETEA-LU through the end of FY 2010. House Transportation leaders and staff have indicated that it is their intent that this further extension will provide sufficient authority to cover the funding levels set in the FY 2010 Transportation appropriations bill. However, with only the House having acted on this provision, it is not clear how and when the Senate will deal with the bill.

NYPTA will continue to keep its membership informed of the latest legislative developments. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Association headquarters.

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NYPTA President Frank Kobliski testified before the Assembly Transportation Committee hearing on NYSDOT's proposed five year capital program. Committee Chairman David Gantt presided over the hearing, which was held in Rochester on December 8, 2009. NYPTA outlined its position on the NYSDOT proposal, noting that it provided for a 44% increase in non-MTA capital funding, grew the transit program at the same rate as the highway and bridge program, and underscored the critical need to address operating assistance issues in conjunction with capital funding. President Kobliski stated that despite these positive points, the NYSDOT proposal fell short of what is needed to make public transit a more viable option throughout the state. NYPTA recommended that the capital funding proposal be increased by $130 million to accelerate modernization of the bus fleet. Mr. Kobliski also strongly urged the Legislature to consider the growing operating assistance crisis when the capital plan is considered.

Assemblyman Gantt evidenced interest in the STOA program and asked if NYPTA had a position on the use of performance parameters as an alternate approach to distributing STOA across the state. Mr. Kobliski noted that there was general agreement in the industry that a performance-based allocation methodology would be desirable, but that a consensus must be developed on using metrics that insure fairness and equity. Mr. Gantt also invited recommendations on how to increase revenues to meet the capital and operating needs of public transit.

Following the NYPTA testimony, C. Douglas Hartmayer presented testimony on behalf of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. The NFTA presentation echoed many of NYPTA's themes, particularly in its emphasis that operating assistance issues needed attention concurrent with the capital plan proposal.

NYPTA will continue to update its members on developments with the Assembly Transportation Committee hearings. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at Association headquarters.

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On Wednesday, December 2^nd, the Legislature passed a deficit reduction plan to achieve $2.7 billion in savings for FYE 2010. In a public statement, Governor Paterson criticized the final plan but is expected to sign it into law. "While the deficit reduction legislation passed by the Legislature provides needed savings, it falls well short of what is necessary to put New York on the road to fiscal and economic recovery. It does not fully address our current-year budget deficit. It does not solve our severe cash-flow crunch. It does not address our long-term structural imbalance. And at $2.7 billion in current-year savings, it does not even achieve the $2.8 billion deficit reduction target that some have touted for two days."

Important to transit is the inclusion of a $120 million sweep from downstate STOA and a 3.36% across the board cut to operating for all systems. The Legislature opted not to include a $5 million sweep of the non-MTA capital account as proposed earlier.

Continue reading this article for a chart detailing the cuts to operating along with an overview of the full deficit reduction plan.

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A special thanks to all of our 2009 Maintenance Roadeo contestants. This years competition showcased the skills of a number of talented transit professionals from across New York State. Congratulations to all, and best wishes to our winning team who is moving on to the international competition in the Spring!

1st Place Team Champions from CDTA

Eric Hermance
Robert Vansteenburg
Phil Jordan

Click Read More to view additional photos!

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