Senate Panel Advances Fiscal ’16 Transportation Bill With ELD, Speed Limiter Requirements

WASHINGTON — A Senate subcommittee easily advanced on June 23 a fiscal 2016 funding bill that would require the Department of Transportation to complete its final rule on electronic logging devices and its proposed rule on speed limiters.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has indicated it plans to issue a final electronic logging device rule by fall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also is planning to release a speed-limiter proposal for heavy trucks.

Overall, the $55.6 billion draft funding measure would provide $572 million for FMCSA, $500 million for a high-profile infrastructure grant program and allow certain larger trucks to continue using stretches of Interstate 69 after it is incorporated into the interstate system, according to a summary of the bill the panel provided.

The bill would set $40.26 billion for the Highway Trust Fund, an amount equal to the fiscal 2015 enacted level that would be contingent on enactment of a transportation policy bill that reauthorizes a 2012 transportation law. The bill also "frees up" $2.4 billion in funding that was set aside for specific infrastructure projects.

“Through negotiation and compromise, this bipartisan bill makes smart investments in our nation’s infrastructure, helps meet the housing needs of the most vulnerable among us and provides funding for economic development projects in our communities,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chairwoman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.

Under the bill, the Federal Railroad Administration would receive $1.68 billion, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration would receive $246 million and NHTSA would receive $825 million.

Members of the full Appropriations Committee are scheduled to take up the legislation June 25 at 10 a.m.