A transportation appropriations bill released on Monday outlines $56.5 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal year 2018, $1.1 billion less than the previous year, and prioritizes investments in transportation infrastructure, community development and housing programs that support economic growth.
The House Appropriations Committee released the initial Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes $150 million in matching federal funds for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) championed by U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA).
U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said that a well-functioning transportation infrastructure is critical to the economy and Americans’ quality of life.
“This bill makes investments in essential highway, air, rail and maritime programs that will keep our people and our goods moving efficiently,” Frelinghuysen said. “In addition, it includes responsible funding to ensure communities across the nation have access to necessary community development funds, and to provide housing to those who need it the most — including the poor, elderly and disabled.”
The appropriations bill includes rail investments of $2.2 billion in the Federal Railroad Administration, $1.4 billion for Amtrak and $258.3 million in investments in rail safety and research programs, in addition to the $150 million in matching federal funds for WMATA.
“I am pleased that the Appropriations Committee has once again proposed to fulfill the commitment of $150 million in matched federal funding toward WMATA,” Comstock said. “This continued partnership between the federal government and states in the compact agreement was first affirmed by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008.”
Under PRIIA, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia each agreed to contribute $50 million to support WMATA in exchange for $150 million in matching federal funds. In the intervening years, Congress has appropriated the matching funds despite efforts by some members to reduce support for WMATA by as much as half.
Comstock said she’d continue to work with U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, to ensure that Congress continues to meet its funding obligation.
“If federal funding were to falter, then matching contributions from the states in the compact agreement would be imperiled,” Comstock said. “Metro needs these critical resources for long overdue capital improvements that will address important safety issues and help purchase new Metro rail cars that will keep my constituents, residents of the D.C. metro area, commuters of the federal workforce and visitors from across the country safe.”
Diaz-Balart thanked Comstock for her knowledge of the issues facing WMATA and its transit riders each day.
“Congresswoman Comstock has actively worked with her constituents to address the problems plaguing WMATA and how it impacts their daily lives,” he said. “The transit system is in need of ongoing maintenance and effective safety programs to better serve the hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors who use it. I look forward to continue working with Congresswoman Comstock to ensure WMATA is adequately funded to provide safe and efficient service.”