Transit Briefs: APTA, MARTA

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and a coalition of industry partners have called on Congress and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to support additional public transit and high speed rail investment in the reconciliation bill, the Build Back Better Act. In addition, a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board Committee has approved depositing a portion of pandemic relief act funds with small, disadvantaged and minority-owned financial institutions.

AAR, APTA Seek COVID-19 Waiver Extensions (Updated)

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Public Transportation Association have separately petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an extension of existing waivers of compliance from certain provisions of rail safety regulations that FRA granted last fall relating to COVID-19.

Commuter Rail Insurance Crisis Solution Gaining Momentum

The American Public Transportation Association has added its voice to the chorus of commuter rail stakeholders in addressing the liability insurance crisis—first identified and acted upon by the Commuter Rail Coalition—facing operators.

How Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Impacts Rail, Transit

The U.S. Senate has voted 67-32 to consider a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure package, following a compromise by President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators on key provisions, including $39 billion for public transit and $66 billion for passenger and freight rail.

Public Transit Agencies, Leaders Earn Top APTA Honors

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has awarded 10 organizations and leaders for their “vision, leadership and commitment to public transportation,” and inducted four new members into APTA Hall of Fame.

House Appropriations Committee OKs FY22 THUD Bill

The House Appropriations Committee on July 16 approved the Fiscal Year 2022 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) funding bill of $84.1 billion, a more than 11% boost over 2021.

Biden: ‘That’s What it Means to Compromise’ (Updated)

President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators have agreed on a five-year, $973 billion infrastructure framework that includes $579 billion in new spending over that period, of which $312 billion is slated for transportation.

Transit Briefs: Greater Cleveland RTA, Denton County TA, WMATA

Greater Cleveland (Ohio) Regional Transit Authority (RTA) canceled its railcar procurement Request for Proposal (RFP); Denton County (Texas) Transportation Authority (DCTA) received four first-place honors in the 2021 AdWheel Awards, presented by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA); and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Amazon are partnering on a transit-oriented development (TOD) program to create 1,000 affordable housing units.

APTA, AASHTO Release High-Performance Rail ROI Report

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) have issued a new high-performance rail return on investment report, quantifying the economic and social benefits of passenger rail corridor investments.

Senate Commerce Committee Debuts $78B Bill for Surface Transportation

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has released a bipartisan five-year surface transportation bill authorizing $78 billion for rail, freight, safety and research programs; it is a companion to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works’ (EPW) recently advanced, and also bipartisan, $303.5 billion Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021.

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