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APTA Webinar with Congressional Rail Staff– Overview of the FAST Act

Gain insight into the key aspects of the FAST Act relating to rail funding, safety, and policy. Explore the implications of the $280 billion allocated to highways, transit, and rail. Understand the significant Amtrak grants and state grant programs, as well as liability and safety provisions including Positive Train Control (PTC). Learn about financing opportunities, Amtrak reforms, and project delivery considerations under the FAST Act.

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APTA Webinar with Congressional Rail Staff– Overview of the FAST Act

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  1. APTA Webinar with Congressional Rail Staff– Overview of the FAST Act January 21, 2016

  2. APTA Webinar on FAST Act Welcome! Rob Healy Vice President - Government Affairs APTA

  3. Questions? • Submit via GoToWebinar • Or send an email to webinarquestions@apta.com - (This is a temporary email for only this week) • We will do our best to answer as many questions as we can at the end of the webinar

  4. Congressional Transportation Staff Fred Miller House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (Republican staff) Patrick Fuchs U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Republican staff) Matt Kelly U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Democratic staff)

  5. FAST Act Timeline • 3/4/2015 – House passes PRRIA • 6/25/2015 – Senate Commerce Committee reports out R2E2 • 7/30/2015 – Senate passes DRIVE Act with passenger rail title • 11/5/2015 – House passes STRR Act • 12/1/2015 – House-Senate Conference reports out FAST Act • 12/4/2015 – President Obama signs FAST Act

  6. FAST Act Overview • Long-term Bill, 5 Years Fully Funded • Highways, Transit and Rail • $280 billion (HTF) • $305 billion including General Fund Authorizations

  7. Rail Title Amtrak Grants • Grants for Amtrak authorized at $1.45 billion in FY2016 and rise to $1.8 billion in FY2020 • Amtrak National Network FY2016 $1 billion • Northeast Corridor (NEC) FY2016 $450 million • All funding in the bill is subject to annual appropriations, but still a significant increase over current law

  8. Rail Title State Grant Programs • State grant programs • A total of $2.2 billion is authorized over five years for rail funding in the FAST Act through three primary, general-funded, programs. • Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair $997 million • Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements $1.1 billion. • Restoration and Enhancement Grants $20 million per year from FY2016 - 2020 for operating assistance to initiate, restore, or enhance intercity passenger rail service.

  9. Amtrak Reforms • Accounts • 5-year business line and asset plans • State-supported route committee • Right-of-way leveraging • Station development

  10. Passenger Rail Policy • NEC provisions • NEC commission • Through-ticketing and procurement • Competition • Shared Use Study – calls for closer review of insurance/liability issues for passenger/commuter railroads

  11. Liability Issues • Increases the liability cap for Amtrak from $200 million to $295 million • Application to commuter railroads may vary • Applies the increase retroactively to the Philadelphia Amtrak accident

  12. Questions? • Submit via GoToWebinar • Or send an email to webinarquestions@apta.com - (This is a temporary email for only this week) • We will do our best to answer as many questions as we can at the end of the webinar

  13. Safety Provisions • Significant Safety Title to the bill • Requires speed limit action plans to address automatic train control modifications, crew communication, and other speed enforcement issues • Requires states to draft grade crossing action plans to facilitate and improve state grade crossing safety efforts • Addresses other important safety issues such as signal protection, signage, alerters, recording devices and track inspection

  14. Safety Provisions (PTC) • Positive Train Control (PTC) provisions • Deadline extended in previous legislation • FAST Act clarification on implementation plans • Progress reports • Early adoption and interoperability • PTC at grade crossings effectiveness study • $199 Million one-time authorization from the Mass Transit Account for commuter installation in FY2017

  15. Financing • RRIF reform to make program more accessible • Eligibilities • Priority projects • Credit risk premium changes • Credit worthiness • Master credit agreements • Transit oriented development • Loan terms/repayment

  16. Project Delivery • Treatment of improvements to rail under historic preservation requirements • Railroad rights-of-way • Protections for existing agreements and NEPA

  17. Questions? • Submit via GoToWebinar • Or send an email to webinarquestions@apta.com - (This is a temporary email for only this week) • We will do our best to answer as many questions as we can at the end of the webinar

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