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The House version of reauthorization, HR-3, passed following acceptance of a “manager's amendment” which served up the pork and a couple of surprises, on 3/10/2005. HR-3 addresses freight mobility in a big way.

• $3 billion over 5 years for a National Corridor Infrastructure Improvement Program, designed to fund regional and multi-state corridor projects that will improve mobility and economic growth;

• $1.025 billion for the Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program, funding to improve movement of goods and people across US-Mexico and US-Canada borders;

• $1.25 billion in additional funding over 5 years to states to improve freight intermodal connectors;

• $6 billion for a new program to fund projects of “regional and national significance,” for projects that will have a significant impact on the movement of goods and people beyond the immediate local area of the project;

• $800 million for a new program to fund construction of truck only lanes; and
  

• $100 million to complete core development and encourage expanded deployment of the “Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks” (CVISN) program (allowing trucks to by-pass safety inspections and weigh stations based on their safety records).

This expanded $12 billion pot of program dollars will be a focal point of the mission of the Central Corridors Freight Committee. The emphasis on intermodal, rail, regional and systems objectives is apparent from the summary. We expect this component of “highway” funding will become a critical battleground for funding projects and for leverage in securing private sector trade-offs that have real system value for freight mobility in this region. This area of programming is likely to expand dramatically in the next reauthorization (note the Corridors and Borders program in HR-3 at $4.025 billion compares to $800 million under TEA-21). Early skirmishes will lead to the key battleground, in 2009-2011, for effectively shaping this area of funding for the next 6-year cycle, which may have a singular impact on the competitiveness of our region through 2020 and beyond.