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On Nov. 20, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure introduced the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (H.R. 3550). The reauthorization bill would provide $375 billion in highway and transit funding during the next six years.

The legislation would increase transit funding to $69.2 billion between 2004 and 2009. Previous legislation provided $41 billion for transit projects over six years.

Transit program funding levels are set at $8.2 billion in fiscal-year 2004, $9.7 billion in FY2006, $10.9 billion in FY2006, $12.2 billion in FY2007, $13.4 billion in FY2008 and $14.8 billion in FY2009.

The bill would include new programs, such as a Small Starts program that would fund commuter rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar projects costing between $25 million and $75 million, and a New Freedom Initiative to improve mobility for disabled passengers beyond ADA requirements.

The committee expects to receive final House approval by mid-March 2004.