House T&I committee approves BUILD America 250 Act

During a 14-hour legislative markup session, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee yesterday voted to incorporate the proposed Railway Safety Act (RSA) (H.R. 7748) into the surface transportation reauthorization bill that was introduced on May 19. The committee then approved the modified bill. 

The reauthorization, titled the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), sets funding priorities and allocations for the next five years of investment in roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, highway and motor carrier safety programs. It will succeed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IIJA) Act of 2021.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) issued a statement regarding the inclusion of the RSA in the reauthorization. According to the AAR, the RSA includes a wide range of mandates that will increase costs throughout the supply chain network without proven safety benefits.

"Rail policy provisions should be targeted, justified by data and tied to clearly demonstrated operational or safety needs," AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies said. "The Railway Safety Act, as written, violates the president's pledge to lower costs, and is an unfortunate example that politics and special-interest pressure can sometimes usurp sound, data-driven policymaking."

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) also released a statement following the T&I Committee's session.

"As a first draft, the BUILD America 250 Act has some welcome provisions that will enhance safety, capacity and reliability for short lines, including a robust authorization of the successful [Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements] program and a continuation of funding for the Section 130 grade crossing program. However, if the final legislation provides only an authorization for CRISI without the guaranteed funding included under the IIJA, it will represent a step backward for short-line rail investment," said Chuck Baker, president, ASLRRA. 

The ASLRRA also expressed disappointment over the inclusion of an amendment that increases truck weights in a pilot program, as well as the inclusion of the RSA. While short lines are not directly targeted under the act, the provisions would impose "costly and inflexible mandates" on the rail network as a whole, Baker added.

"At a time when the public is concerned with rising costs, these amendments do not serve our nation well," he said.