What happened: The Biden administration blueprint released March 28 calls for surface transportation program spending levels authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). If met, it would increase core highway and transit spending by 2 percent.

Over the past five appropriations cycles, negotiators have added supplemental spending for highway, transit, and airport capital construction on top of the previously authorized funding levels. While uncertain if this trend will continue in FY 2023, ARTBA will remain steadfast in our advocacy efforts to ensure the IIJA investment levels are met, and supplemental resources are again included.

The budget also outlines proposed transportation resources for the next 10 years. It calls for fully-funding IIJA programs through FY 2026, the last year of the law, and then continuing core highway, transit, and airport capital programs at the FY 2026 levels through FY 2032.

Why it matters: The budget request formally begins the annual appropriations process and serves as an outline of the administration’s priorities. Final investment decisions will be negotiated by Congress and the administration in coming months.

What’s next: Administration officials later this spring will appear at congressional hearings to lay out the budget request for each department. Legislators will then begin crafting the FY 2023 spending bills. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Source: https://newsline.artba.org/2022/03/29/biden-fy-2023-budget-calls-for-full-funding-of-iija-transportation-construction-programs/