advertisement

---

Yesterday, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) launched a website with information about how it plans to implement elements of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), the new two-year transportation authorization bill that President Obama signed into law July 6.

The bill authorized FTA funding of $10.6 billion for fiscal-year 2013 and $10.7 billion for FY2014, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff wrote in a letter posted on the new website.

Although the funding authorized in the new law is below levels that Obama sought in his budget, MAP-21 will provide “steady and predictable” funding for the next two years, the letter stated.

“Consistent with the president's budget proposals, MAP-21 consolidates certain transit programs to improve their efficiency and provides significant funding increases specifically for improving state of good repair of our transit systems,” Rogoff wrote.

MAP-21 will take effect on Oct. 1. Until then, transit programs will continue to be operated under the SAFETEA-LU law.

“FTA is already hard at work on a plan to implement the new law and develop new guidance and information for our grantees, other stakeholders and interested parties,” Rogoff stated.

His letter includes some MAP-21 highlights for transit agencies, including those in the areas of safety, state of good repair, formula program consolidation and elimination, New Starts streamlining and Core Capacity Project eligibility.