House Transportation Committee leaders have rolled out a new six-year transportation reauthorization proposal that, they say, streamlines and reforms federal programs, expedites the project approval process, maximizes leveraging of limited resources, provides flexibility for states, and ensures long-term funding stability for job-creating transportation programs, MarineLog reported.
Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) and Committee leaders presented a framework for a six-year reauthorization of federal highway, transit and highway safety programs. The multi-modal initiative also incorporates significant policy reforms for rail and maritime transportation.
"Given U.S. House rules and budget constraints, this proposal maximizes the value of our available infrastructure funding through better leveraging, streamlining the project approval process, attracting private sector investment, and cutting the federal bureaucracy," Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) said. "Most importantly, this six-year proposal provides the stability states need to plan major transportation improvements and create long-term jobs.
The reauthorization proposal is intended to reform and streamline maritime programs and policies to remove impediments to what the committee leaders "this cheap, safe and environmentally- friendly form of transportation."
The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) provides funds for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to carry out the dredging of navigation channels to their authorized depths and widths. The HMTF is based upon a user fee collected from shippers that utilize the nation's coastal ports. Unfortunately,say Committee leaders," we do not invest all of these fees back into harbor maintenance. In FY 2010 the HMTF grew by $1.3 billion, but only $828.6 million was spent. If the status quo continues, the HMTF is estimated to have a balance of $6.93 billion at the end of FY 2012."
The authorization proposal ties HMTF expenditures to revenues and "ensures that we invest funds collected for harbor maintenance as intended.
Streamlines Project Delivery & Federal Bureaucracy: The proposal expedites permits administered by the Corps of Engineers to help address backlogs that increase project costs, which are eventually borne by U.S. consumers and shippers.
Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) and Committee leaders presented a framework for a six-year reauthorization of federal highway, transit and highway safety programs. The multi-modal initiative also incorporates significant policy reforms for rail and maritime transportation.
"Given U.S. House rules and budget constraints, this proposal maximizes the value of our available infrastructure funding through better leveraging, streamlining the project approval process, attracting private sector investment, and cutting the federal bureaucracy," Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) said. "Most importantly, this six-year proposal provides the stability states need to plan major transportation improvements and create long-term jobs.
The reauthorization proposal is intended to reform and streamline maritime programs and policies to remove impediments to what the committee leaders "this cheap, safe and environmentally- friendly form of transportation."
The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) provides funds for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to carry out the dredging of navigation channels to their authorized depths and widths. The HMTF is based upon a user fee collected from shippers that utilize the nation's coastal ports. Unfortunately,say Committee leaders," we do not invest all of these fees back into harbor maintenance. In FY 2010 the HMTF grew by $1.3 billion, but only $828.6 million was spent. If the status quo continues, the HMTF is estimated to have a balance of $6.93 billion at the end of FY 2012."
The authorization proposal ties HMTF expenditures to revenues and "ensures that we invest funds collected for harbor maintenance as intended.
Streamlines Project Delivery & Federal Bureaucracy: The proposal expedites permits administered by the Corps of Engineers to help address backlogs that increase project costs, which are eventually borne by U.S. consumers and shippers.