Congress passes spending package that includes $86.2B in transportation funding

The U.S. Congress this week passed a spending package that includes $86.2 billion dedicated to transportation funding for the U.S. DOT, which is $325 million below the FY 2019 enacted level.

The overall $1.4 trillion FY 2020 spending package—passed by the House on Dec. 17 and by the Senate on Dec. 19—is expected to be signed into law by President Trump prior to the funding deadline of Friday, Dec. 20. 

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, the total funding for U.S. DOT includes $24.8 billion in discretionary appropriations and $61.3 billion in obligation limitations. The bill highlights say that funding is prioritized for programs that improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the transportation system.

The FY 2020 bill includes $46.3 billion in obligation limitation from the Highway Trust Fund for the Federal-aid Highways Program, consistent with the FAST Act. It also includes $1 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants.

The legislation also sets aside $2.8 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration, $13 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, $989 million in total budgetary resources for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and $679 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

-------

SOURCE: Senate Appropriations Committee