“This bill invests in critical national infrastructure to help move our people and products as safely and efficiently as possible. It prioritizes important programs and projects, making the best use of every transportation dollar,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers says. “In addition, it funds housing programs at a responsible level, keeping a roof over the heads of individuals and families who need help the most.”
USDOT would receive $19.2 billion in discretionary appropriations, an increase of $540 million from fiscal year 2016. The bill provides total budgetary resources of $76.9 billion.
For highways, the bill would provide $44 billion from the Highway Trust Fund to be used on the Federal-aid Highways Program, an increase of $905 million from fiscal year 2016, and a figure that was authorized in last year’s FAST Act.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would see an increase of $49 million compared to 2016, at $918 million in total resources. However, the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program would see a decrease of $50 million to $450 million.
Since 2009, the TIGER program has provided roughly $4.6 billion to 381 projects, encompassing transportation enhancements in each state as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. This also includes 134 projects that support rural and tribal communities. Last year, the program received applications for grants valued at $10.1 billion.
