U.S. Legislative News

The 2018 Midterm Election Results: What Do They Mean for Transportation?

An atypical midterm election has resulted in Democrats gaining a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and Republicans increasing their seat majority in the Senate. The shift of power in the House will give Democrats the chairmanships of committees, as well as the ability to advance legislation through the chamber.

The leadership of both parties has expressed a strong desire to provide funding for infrastructure programs. The way in which those programs are paid for will likely be subject of strong debate, as has been the case in past infrastructure negotiations. Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are also looking at ways to address a looming funding shortfall for the Highway Trust Fund slated for 2020.  Many Democrats are advocating for an increase in fuel taxes to raise funds. On the other hand, many Republicans have been in support of alternative means of revenue generation, such as a mileage-based user fee (MBUF).

The Road to Zero Emissions

Environmental protection groups have long advocated for more stringent vehicle emissions programs that encourage automakers, consumers, and policymakers to embrace technologies that reduce the emissions generated by automobiles. California has led this charge under its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program, which has been adopted by nine other states.

These programs require that a certain percentage of the cars sold by automakers in those states be ones that produce zero-emission. The requirements have led to a major uptick in the number of electric vehicles seen on the road today.

General Motors has signaled to the presidential administration that it would be in support of a country-wide Zero Emission Vehicle program akin to the ones found in California and like-minded states. Given the administration’s current stance on emission standards, it is unlikely that GM’s support for a National ZEV program will be enough to prompt the administration to change its current course.

Transportation on the Ballot

Several transportation-related ballot initiatives were voted on at the state level on Election Day. The results were varied, with some states such as California opting to maintain their gas tax increases. Others, like Missouri and Colorado, decided against gas tax increases to fund transportation programs. The State of Maine authorized $100 million outright for transportation infrastructure projects.

These results will send mixed messages to members of Congress looking to work on infrastructure funding. Expect legislators to heed developments in their home states as a source of guidance for the policies they support at the federal level.

The Fight for Safer School Buses

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced The School Bus Safety Act of 2018 (S.3432/H.R.6773) in September of this year. The legislation seeks to impose safety mandates for school buses that would require them to be equipped with seat belts, event data recorders, automatic emergency braking systems, and electronic stability control systems.

The bill will also call for several studies on further safety measures that may be required of school buses. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety have come out in support of the legislation, but the bill has not progressed past its introduction in either the House or Senate. The bill will need to be reintroduced during the next session of Congress if it is not acted upon before Congress adjourns for the year.

Appropriators on Autonomous Vehicles

Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle are dissatisfied with the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) decision to shutter the 10 autonomous vehicle proving grounds located across the country. Legislators from both the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation sent a letter on October 9, 2018, expressing their frustration with the DOT’s decision. Congress set aside $20 million in 2018 specifically for investments in the now-defunct proving grounds for driverless vehicles.

In October, the DOT released its approach for shaping automated vehicle policy. In this policy, it said it will adopt flexible, technology-neutral policies that promote competition and innovation. "This approach will allow the public - not the federal government - to choose the most effective transportation and mobility solutions," the DOT noted.

The lack of federally funded facilities to conduct driverless testing places a large share of the burden to develop this technology within the private sector. There are fears from legislators that without direction and investment from the government, the U.S. will fall behind other countries competing in the race for a driverless future. The following statement from Sen. Gary Peter (D-Mich.) reflects those sentiments.

“Federal investments in self-driving vehicles will help ensure we can achieve the full lifesaving potential of this emerging technology and keep the United States at the forefront of innovation as other countries like China and South Korea continue to invest heavily in developing these technologies.”