Senate committee approves bill to increase highway safety funding

The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously approved Senate Bill 1813, “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21),” which reauthorizes the nation’s transportation programs for two years.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., committee chairwoman, highlighted the subject matter of the hearing in her opening statement, saying, “Colleagues, as we meet today to markup S. 1813, MAP-21, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, 70,000 of our nation’s bridges are structurally deficient and over 50 percent of our roads are not up to standard.”

Among the highlights of the bill:

• MAP-21 consolidates the number of federal programs by two-thirds, from approximately 90 programs down to less than 30, to focus resources on key national goals and reduce duplicative programs,
• Eliminates earmarks,
• Expedites project delivery while protecting the environment,
• Creates a new title called “America Fast Forward,” which strengthens the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program (TIFIA) program to leverage federal dollars further than they have been stretched before.

MAP-21 continues to provide the majority of federal-aid highway funds to the states through core programs. However, the core highway programs have been reduced from seven to five, one of which being the existing core program titled the “Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).” MAP-21 builds on the success of HSIP and substantially increases the amount of funding for this program because of the strong results it has achieved in reducing fatalities. Under HSIP, states must develop and implement a safety plan that identifies highway safety programs and a strategy to address them.

To view further information, including details of the committee markup, visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.TakingTheHill.co.

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