Perspectives from Washington on the FTA’s New Starts Program and TEA-21 Reauthorization
Rep. Michael E. Capuano and Rep. John F. Tierney, U.S. House of Representatives
Introduction: Dan Wilson, Executive Director.
T-21 was the second reauthorization of ISTEA. The emphasis is on intermodal transit. Airports are not included. It represents highways and transit. The major issues revolve about the [formula for] the distribution of money among the states.
Here in Massachusetts, we have many projects that are of great importance to our state.
Rep. Capuano: I represent 70% of the City of Boston, plus Chelsea, Cambridge and Somerville. I am the former Mayor of Somerville and am a member of the [U.S.] House Committee on...[Transportation].
This is a snapshot of what’s happening, since there is a diversity of interest [among those assembled]: Reauthorization is in deep trouble because of politics. There is a push in Congress to get it passed, but there is a delay because the White House wants the dollar figure to be limited. One state is in competition with the others. New York would be hurt in all scenarios, but Texas would gain. There is a split between the highway and transit interests on the issue. Safe routes to school and bikeways are at issue.
With national elections approaching, the attention is elsewhere. There might just be an extension of the current arrangement. No one knows what is going to happen. If it doesn’t, there likely will be an extension for a year. If so, what happens to the projects on the table? It is likely to be a basic extension. An extension with lots of projects would likely be more difficult to pass, since the cost would be high. Nevertheless, there is pressure for a legislator to be able to tell his constituents that he brought home a project. I wouldn’t be shocked if the bill passed, but it likely would be a plain vanilla bill.
I have not yet seen a list of priorities from the State. It is frustrating to work with a…[Romney] administration that is two years old and hasn’t set its priorities. Transportation is very important in my district. There has been bad planning and policy. I am shocked that you people have been quiet about this.
We have [street and highway] intersections in Somerville [that need work]. Where are they on the priorities list? Someone has to set the agenda. There are two fights: In Washington, to get the money and here as to what are we going to do with it?
Rep. Tierney: The Blue Line is [my] priority. Massachusetts got about $600 million more that the previous reauthorization, even though it is a Democrat delegation to a Republican administration. We have a struggle with the Blue Line. Within this month there is going to be the last meeting of the advisory committee to determine the route. That project is incredibly important. The local Lynn government is ready for it. During the recent [Democratic National] Convention, there was a temporary [transit] hub there. The Blue Line would solve environmental considerations.
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Curtis Davis, Moderator: This is an opportunity to address these concerns. Given the [atmosphere] of privatization, both the MPO and the State have been working on priorities. What is the breeze on this? Is there a natural focus?
Rep. Capuano: The national focus will be on this. I suggest that you are focusing on local issues. They are small relative to the total bill. I live here too, and I know better what is more important to my district than Washington does. The focus has to be on the state. Those priorities should have been done a year and a half ago. I am still waiting for the definition of sprawl: Everyone is against it, but what is it? Until I see a policy, [I can’t react to it].
Rep. Tierney: The fact that the President threatened to veto the smallest of all bills is a fight we can fight. The distance between highways and transit is very significant. We have urban areas such as Lynn that have land and need more access.
Rep. Capuano: Regarding transit, we have maintained the 80/20 split. In the previous bill, there was a smaller piece of the pie. Transit has become more important to cities that six years ago weren’t interested in transit.
Rep. Tierney: Heritage areas: Don’t take [the support] out of our heritage area.
Question: Most of this discussion has been about large projects. I am interested in a rail trail. What about small projects?
Rep. Tierney: Rep. Ernie Istook of Oklahoma is trying to kill rail trails. This is [an] important [issue] in my district. There is one to Newburyport. It makes for safe routes to school.
Rep. Capuano: The same thing happened in the authorization bill. The Chairman (from Alaska) was against it.
If the State says we can use live rail beds for a rail trail as well. I joke that anyone who wants to jump in front of a train has already done it.
Liz Levin, Walk Boston: [I am] shocked how little funding goes to [walking paths].
Rep. Tierney: Members have fought for connections to schools and rail trails. Small projects have small numbers of advocates.
Question: Both of you mention Texas having more influence. How would a Kerry presidency and a Republican House run?
Rep. Tierney: There must be cooperation, rather than trying to bring someone down.
Rep. Capuano: This is a funding bill, not a policy bill. I would like a President who knows where the Chelsea Street Bridge is.
Barry M. Steinberg, Association for Public Transportation: You talk about priorities. It seems to me that this issue has been addressed ad nauseum in this area. In fact, the transit advocate is inundated in meeting dates to the extent that he has to spend defensive advocacy time to assure that no one is going to slip something past him. This rather than being able to propose positive policy initiatives.
Rep. Capuano: Since Gov. Dukakis, there has been no governor who has been concerned with mass transportation projects.
Rep. Tierney: Governor after governor has advocated projects, but they haven’t pushed them when budget time has come.
Rep. Capuano: So where is the funding? Don’t blame the T. With whom do you argue? The State.
Curtis Davis: There has been a privatization of tunnels. What discussion has there been of stimulating private investment?
Rep. Capuano: I think it is a stupid idea, and I will fight it with every fiber of my being.
Rep. Tierney: Outside the Transportation Committee, there is no discussion of it. When you consider Enron, there is no public accountability.
Marilyn Wellons, Friends of the White Geese: There is now a Executive Office of Transportation and Construction sic study of extending highway bridges when the State said they couldn’t fund it. Harvard University offered to do it.
Rep. Capuano: I haven’t seen the study, but it doesn’t bother me as long as the State is the major decision-maker.
Wellons: A lot of Federal funding is being used to create the infrastructure in case the Mass. Turnpike decides to move the interchange.
Rep. Capuano: Sometimes you DO put money into something that is not going to be used.
Question: Re Amtrak. Senator Byrd stepped in to keep it operational. In terms of a regional plan. The governors should set the priorities. What are its prospects for future planning efforts?
Rep. Tierney: There is a team that opposes it. We [will] fight for it to the finish. There have been a few champions.
Rep. Capuano: I agree, but think that a lot of money given to Amtrak has been wasted.
Question: I think David Gunn [the head of Amtrak] is respected.
Rep. Capuano: No, he is not. I want a strong, healthy Amtrak system. How come we are not closer to having a good train system between Boston and New York after all the millions of dollars that have been spent? In fact, commuter trains have a priority over the Acela.
Curtis Davis: Re economic competitiveness. Is there a sense that regions are…[in competition with other regions, on a national scale]? We need mobility.
Rep. Tierney: It would make sense. Others should advocate this, not just government.
That kind of discussion would be very productive. We have lost that focus. People assume these things are going to be there, but don’t want to pay taxes [to support them].
Rep. Capuano: Over the last twenty years, there has been discussion of devolution of responsibilities. Without a federal government, there would be [no regional systems]. If for every $1 a state gives, they get back $1, for what do we need a federal government?
The people in Washington are not capable of making policy. The concept of greater regions is a minority view. I remember the textile industry moved from here to the southeast, and now is moving outside the country. It is difficult to override the local view.
Rep. Tierney: We need leadership in research that is not going to let these issues slide. After a while, things are going to change. Transportation security is impacting mobility. It is difficult to get foreign students into this country.
Rep. Capuano: We went to eastern Europe. Every region is in competition with our research base. Every one of these countries is putting millions of dollars into research.
Rep. Tierney: Mass transit has to become part of our energy policy.
Question: Currently the Department of Energy runs research into fuel cells. In fifty years there will be no oil. Is there anything that can be done between DOE and the Department of Transportation to talk with each other?
Rep. Tierney: [Even] the secretaries don’t speak with each other. The President is fossil-fuel-oriented. They are cutting research. Even when talking about hydrogen, there is no discussion about how much energy is needed to produce hydrogen. The wind power in North Dakota could power much of the country. We have to show some seriousness. This is not an Administration that believes in it.
Note: There was no July membership meeting. The August meeting encompassed a guided tour by Executive Director James E. Rooney and staff of the new Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in South Boston.
Notes on Move Massachusetts meetings are provided as a public service and do not represent an official statement of Move Massachusetts. The Association for Public Transportation is a member of Move Massachusetts.