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Yesterday, the House passed the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 1105), a $140 billion bill that would fund domestic federal programs for the full fiscal-year 2009, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

The legislation includes $10.2 billion for public transportation, a $740 million increase compared with FY2008. If the bill is enacted, the funding amount would be an all-time high for transit, APTA said. The legislation proposes $1.8 billion for New Starts and Small Starts, up $240 million compared with FY2008; $1.5 billion for Amtrak, up $165 million; and $90 million in state intercity passenger-rail grants, up $60 million.

The Senate will consider the same bill next week, APTA said. The continuing resolution that currently funds programs included in the omnibus bill expires on March 6.