S. 2635: Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act

This bill, known as the Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act, proposes changes to the way emergency relief funds are managed for highway projects following disasters. The key points of the bill are summarized as follows:

Increased Flexibility for Emergency Relief Projects

The bill aims to amend existing laws regarding federal aid for highway emergency relief. It specifically allows greater flexibility in the deadlines associated with projects funded under these emergency relief provisions.

Deadline for Advancement to Construction

Under the bill, the Secretary of Transportation is prohibited from requiring any emergency relief project to move to the construction phase before the end of the sixth fiscal year following the declaration of an emergency by either a Governor or the President. This means that if an emergency is declared, there will be a longer timeframe for planning and beginning construction on the necessary projects.

Extension of Deadlines

The Secretary can grant extensions to this deadline. If a State Governor requests it, the Secretary may extend the deadline by up to one additional year. Furthermore, additional extensions may be granted if the Secretary finds that there is enough justification from the Governor for more time.

Updating Emergency Relief Manuals

The bill mandates that the Secretary of Transportation update the Emergency Relief Manual of the Federal Highway Administration at least every two years. This updated manual will be provided to each State's department of transportation and made publicly available online, ensuring that all stakeholders have access to the most current guidelines and procedures concerning emergency relief projects.

Purpose and Goals

The overall goal of the Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act is to ensure that states have sufficient time and resources to deal with transportation issues that arise from emergencies. This is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of response efforts to infrastructure damage caused by natural disasters or other events.

Relevant Companies

• CSX - As a major transportation company, any changes in federal funding for infrastructure can impact their operations and business strategy, given their reliance on highways for freight transport.
• UNP - Union Pacific, another significant freight transportation service, might see effects from changes to highway infrastructure that impact logistics and freight routing.