Surface Transportation Act of 2009

House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James L. Oberstar (D-MN) has released a white paper to outline plans for the new surface transportation authorization bill. The authorization bill is currently being drafted and will replace the current authorization, SAFETEA-LU, which is due to expire on September 30. Oberstar has promised that the new authorization will transform the way the federal government invests highway, safety, and transit funds.

The Surface Transportation Act of 2009 redefines the Federal role and restructures the Federal surface transportation by consolidating or terminating more than 75 programs. The consolidation creates Highway and Transit funding, each of which have four program categories.

Within transit funding, one of the program categories is providing mobility and access to transit-dependent individuals. Many of the current programs that assist aging Americans and individuals with disabilities are slated for consolidation into the access and mobility program or termination.

Programs slated for consolidation into the mobility and access program include:
• ADA Project Action
• Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program Section 5310
• Human Services Transportation Coordination
• Job Access and Reverse Commute Program
• National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation
• New Freedom Program

Programs slated for termination include:
• Growing States and High Density States program
• Contracted Paratransit pilot program
• Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities pilot program
• Medical Transportation Demonstration Grants
• Over-the-Road Bus accessibility program

The news conference, originally set for Wednesday, June 17, occurred instead late in the afternoon on Thursday, June 18 at in the Rayburn House Office Building.

To view the executive summary of the white paper:
http://transportation.house.gov/Media/file/Highways/HPP/Surface%20Transportation%20Blueprint%20Executive%20Summary.pdf

To view a full list of the programs slated for consolidation or termination:
http://transportation.house.gov/Media/file/Highways/HPP/Surface%20Transportation%20Blueprint%20Program%20Consolidation.pdf

To view a video of the news conference:
http://transportation.house.gov/