Rep. Napolitano Hails Passage of Highway Bill

Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32) hailed the passage of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRR Act), which continues to fund critical essential highway construction, highway safety, and transit programs through September 2021. The STRR Act ultimately passed by a vote of 363 to 64.

"This long-term bill is a product of great bipartisan compromise that will create jobs and keep our economy moving," Napolitano said. "We are glad our California priorities were reflected in so many provisions in the bill, and we thank our local and state transportation agencies for helping us ensure our state's needs were met. The San Gabriel Valley is home to one of the nation's busiest rail and trucking corridors, and increased safety through highway rail grade separation projects will continue to allow for safe transport of goods through our region to the rest of the country. I want to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio for all of their great work on this bill."

Napolitano, the highest ranking Californian on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sent a letter in June with 37 members of the California Democratic delegation outlining priorities of the state of California for a long-term transportation bill. Through amendments and her tireless work on the Transportation Committee, she was able to secure many of these provisions in the final version of the STRR Act, including:

Creating a funded freight program to improve goods movement while mitigating the impacts on local communities

a. Supported by Caltrans, California Association of Councils of Governments, League of California Cities, Metropolitan Transportation Commission of the San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California Association of Governments, San Diego Area Association of Governments, L.A. Metro, Sacramento Area Council of Governments

Maintaining the Railway-Highway Crossings Program

a. Supported by Caltrans, Alameda Corridor East

Including local transportation agencies as eligible recipients of grant funds

a. Supported by California Association of Councils of Government

Reinstating dedicated funding for local bridges on the federal highway system

a. Supported by California State Association of Counties

Opposing efforts to require or incentivize the outsourcing of public engineering, design, and inspection services on transportation projects

a. Supported by Professional Engineers in California Government

Funding for transportation alternatives, such as walking and biking

a. Supported by Caltrans, California Association of Councils of Governments, Southern California Association of Governments, San Diego Area Association of Governments, L.A. Metro, Sacramento Area Council of Governments

Allowing for park and ride relinquishment to local agencies

a. Supported by Caltrans, L.A. Metro

Reforming HOV access and degradation standards to improve alternative fuel vehicle usage

a. Supported by Caltrans, L.A. Metro, Orange County Transportation Authority

Following passage, Napolitano was appointed to the STRR Act Conference Committee, a select bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers tasked with writing the final version of the highway bill.

"We will fight for more funding to repair the critical infrastructure millions of Southern Californians rely on daily," Napolitano added. "I look forward to meeting with fellow conferees and continuing to represent the San Gabriel Valley on this issue."

Source