Transportation Funding Update – FAST Act Deployment Grants and Act 89 Implementation

After 10 years and 36 short-term extensions, we FINALLY have long-term transportation funding at the federal level.  In December of 2015 the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or “FAST Act”, was enacted into law.  For the most part, the FAST Act keeps current funding levels, shares, and program structures intact - at $305 billion over fiscal years 2016 through 2020. Important to the ITS industry, the FAST Act establishes an Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Program with $60M in annual funding over the Act’s 5 years (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/factsheets/advtranscongmgmtfs.cfm).  Additionally, the Act also provides each state with a clearer, more stable outlook with regards to federal funding levels in transportation.

This is welcomed news here in Pennsylvania, as there have been legislative hearings over the past several months discussing the struggles to realize the anticipated funding increases from Act 89. Much of the testimony has been centered on the funding of Pennsylvania State Police from the Motor License Fund. To hear the testimony and discussion from the Reliable Alternatives to Funding the Pennsylvania State Police Senate Transportation Committee hearing, visit http://transportation.pasenategop.com/021616/ .