A Federal Transit Administration proposal to change its standards for evaluating new projects has sparked an outcry from transit agencies and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. They contend FTA didn’t follow guidelines Congress set in 2005’s SAFETEA-LU law and also added provisions not called for by legislators. The Senate has voted to block FTA from carrying out the proposal, at least for 2008.
At issue is a proposed rule FTA published on Aug. 3 detailing changes it wants to make in rating “new starts.” FTA Administrator James S. Simpson defends the proposal, telling a House subcommittee on Sept. 26 that it “provides a good basis on which to make continued improvements to the management of this important program.”