H.R. 6052 would promote increased public transportation use, to promote increased use of alternative fuels in providing public transportation.
Detailed Summary
Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for each of FY2008-FY2009 for public transportation formula grants for urbanized areas and for other areas. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make such grants for: (1) operating costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation that the grant recipient is no longer able to pay as a result of reducing fares; and (2) operating and capital costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide transportation services that the recipient incurs as a result of expanding such services. Requires the federal share of the costs for such grants to be 100%.
Requires a grant for FY2008-FY2009 that involves acquiring clean fuel or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities for the purposes of complying with the Clean Air Act to be for 100% of the net project cost of the equipment or facilities unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage.
Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to require: (1) qualified federal agency employees serving in urbanized areas of the United States that are served by fixed route public transportation to be offered transit pass transportation fringe benefits; and (2) the Secretary to issue guidance on nationwide implementation of a transportation fringe benefit program.
Requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program to carry out vanpool demonstration projects in not more than three urbanized areas and not more than two other areas.
Requires a grant for a capital project during FY2008-FY2009 that involves the acquisition of real property for, or the design, engineering, or construction of, additional parking facilities at an end-of-line fixed guideway station to be for 100% of the net capital cost of the project unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 6/27/2008: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Josh Taylor
I support this bill. People are so greedy on oil, they need to stop and switch to solor power.
David Wilson
Really? Last time I checked, people are greedy on more than just oil.
It's our "greed" that will lead us to alternative sources of energy most efficaciously.
igor
this is so much more immediatly helpful than pushing for increased oil drilling - we can increase public transit ridership, and thus lower our fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions, immediately, especially given the increased ridership public transit systems have been facing across the country. drilling for oil wouldn't bring additional oil to the market for another 10 years - we could take that time to build up alternative fuel infrastructure instead, and in the process start a whole new industry which will domestically employ thousands of Americans.
Liz Fizz
This is exactly the type of beneficial enterprise that I would prefer my tax dollars going to. There's too much excess spending in errors, and not enough for the benefit of society.
shauna
this is the kind of legislation we urgently need!
Muley63
All these bills are great, but whose going to pay for it? We already pay about a one-third of our budget for interest. The problem with this kind of bill is when the support stops and transportation programs have to raise their fares or cancel routes. The public complains they can't depend on them and they have a valid point. Congress should fund capital improvements only and make the states support them operationally.
Mary
Agree with Muley63. Also, given that the law suddenly requires taxpayers to subsidize transportation expenses for federal employees, it amounts to just one more money grab for the government.