FY2020 THUD bill approved by House Appropriations Committee
The House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) bill with a vote of 29 to 21 on June 4. The legislation was approved in subcommittee on May 23 and now moves to the floor of the House of Representatives.
According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the legislation provides $13.5 billion public transportation and $2.7 billion for passenger rail. Additionally, language in the bill prohibits the Federal Railroad Administration from recovering funds provided to the California high-speed rail project.
U.S. Rep. David Price (D-NC), chair of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, said, “We continue the model established by this subcommittee in the last two fiscal years by providing $3 billion in additional discretionary resources above the FAST Act authorized levels for highways, transit, and aviation projects. This funding will benefit every state and territory in the nation by making new projects possible or accelerating existing ones.”
APTA says the legislation’s inclusion of $16.3 billion in grants for public transportation and passenger rail is more than $1 billion more than the FY 2020 FAST Act authorization and $150 million more than the 2019 THUD Appropriations Act. The bill also includes an administrative provision that prohibits a 12 percent cut to public transportation formula grants in FY 2020.
Some of the bill’s highlights include:
- $1 billion for National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER/BUILD), $100 million above the 2019 enacted level
- $3 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration, which includes $350 million for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements; $350 million for Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair and $13 million for Positive Train Control support.
- $2 billion for Amtrak, which includes $700 million for Northeast Corridor Grants and $1.3 billion for National Network Grants
- $13.5 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, which includes $2.3 billion for Capital Investment Grants (CIG) and $750 million for Transit Infrastructure Grants
- The Transit Infrastructure Grants include $389 million for Bus and Bus Facility Program and $94 million in Low or No Emission Bus Program
APTA explained that in addition to the $2.3 billion for the CIG Program, the bill requires the FTA to obligate 80 percent of these dollars by December 31, 2021. It also includes language on FTA changes to the approval process for CIG grants.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
