Foster Votes to Continue Funding for Transportation Projects and to Keep Metra Running

Statement

Today, Representative Bill Foster (IL-11) voted for H.R. 3819, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015. The bill allows transportation funds to continue flowing to states while Congress works to pass a long-term transportation bill.

"While I would have preferred this to be a long-term transportation bill, funding for road construction projects must continue to flow to the states before the construction season is over. I am, however, optimistic that Congress will be able to pass a long-term transportation bill before the end of the year to give our local governments and businesses the certainty they need to make long-term investments."

H.R. 3819 also delays the implementation deadline for Positive Train Control (PTC) until 2018. PTC is an electronic safety system designed to prevent train crashes and derailments. However, when the law requiring PTC was passed in 2008, much of the technology necessary to implement such a system had not yet been created. As a result, the December 2015 deadline has proven unrealistic.

"I have listened to leadership at Metra and companies that use the rail system to ship goods all over this country, and it is clear that it is too soon to require full implementation of PTC."

"Requiring transit agencies and freight railroads to implement PTC this December would be unsafe and disruptive to our freight network. We need to give them time to fully test their systems to ensure safe and effective implementation."

Source