Federal policy update provided by NADO Executive Director Joe McKinney at the Arizona Rural Transportation Summit on 10-19-17

1. Washington
Update
Arizona Rural Transportation
Summit
October 19, 2017

2. Presentation Overview
• New administration’s approach to
transportation
• Congressional actions
• Where rural stands in potential infrastructure
proposal
• Opportunities for RPO America

3. Trump Administration Approach to
Transportation
• Secretary Elaine Chao appointed; Other
modal administrators slowly being confirmed
• Does rural influence in election impact
policymaking?
• Public and private investment – What’s right
for rural?

4. Congressional Actions
• FY2018 Appropriations
• Reauthorization of FAA
• Autonomous Vehicles
• Senate Democrats’ Infrastructure Proposal
• House Approach to Infrastructure

5. Congressional Actions
• FY2018 Appropriations
– House passed omnibus spending package in
September; not expected to advance any further
– Senate will not consider Transportation-HUD bill on
floor
– Current Continuing Resolution expires December 8;
expect another short-term extension

6. FY2018 DOT Funding
*Essential Air Service replaced by proposed by Transportation Aviation Assistance to Remote Areas
Program
Program
Final
FY2017
President's
Request
FY2018
FY2018 Senate
Request
FY2018 House
Passed
Federal Aid Highways $43.2b $45b $45b $44.2b
Transportation Investment Generating
Economic Recovery (TIGER)
$500m $ - $550m $ -
Essential Air Service $175m $119m* $155m $150m

7. Congressional Actions
• FAA Reauthorization
– House bill which would restructure the air traffic
control system is not gaining traction; short of the
needed 218 votes
– Senate bill introduced, does not include ATC
restructuring
– Authorization expired September 30; Congress
passed a six-month extension through March 31

8. Congressional Actions
• Autonomous Vehicles
– House and Senate considering legislation on the federal
role in regulating AVs
– House passed a bill, the SELF DRIVE Act, in September
– Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill, the AV Start
Act, this month
– Many unknowns and challenges
• State laws and local regulations
• Technology deployment moving faster than regulatory process
• Impacts on public transportation, workforce, trucking industry,
city and regional planning, local and state revenue, local rules
and regulations, data demands

9. Congressional Actions
• Senate Democrats’ Infrastructure Proposal
– Released in January 2017
– $1 trillion in investment including $200 billion in roads
and bridges
– Investments in broadband, water and sewer, and
schools

10. Congressional Actions
• House Approach to Infrastructure
– House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
has held a series of hearings to garner ideas from
various stakeholders across modes
– Laying groundwork for legislative proposal, but
waiting on the White House

11. Where Rural Stands in
Infrastructure Proposal
• Few details available beyond initial promise of $1
trillion in investment, $200 billion in public dollars
• DOT officials: separate rural title
• Proposal may include different types of
infrastructure
• Where will public investment come from?
Repatriation off the table, used for tax cuts
• Private funding – Does it work for rural?
• Proposal promised from Administration within 3rd
quarter

12. Opportunities for RPO America
• Inform administration and Congress on rural
transportation priorities
• Making the case for what works and doesn’t
work for rural infrastructure investment
• The nature of the administration’s proposal
will be important: new money, policy,
regulatory reform?

13. Questions?