House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Passes 8 DeSaulnier-Authored Provisions to Reduce Traffic Congestion, Improve Commutes, and Protect Environment

Washington, D.C. – Today, 8 provisions authored by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) to reduce congestion, improve commutes, and protect the environment were passed by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrasutructure as part of the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), a 5-year bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill that would invest $580 billion in America’s roads, bridges, transit, and rail transportation, improve safety, and create good-paying jobs. The bill passed the Committee by a vote of 62-to-2 and now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives.

“Our nation and the Bay Area are experiencing modern challenges with transportation that require modern solutions—not the same strategies we’ve been using for decades. I have been dedicated to meeting the transportation needs of our community, including initiatives to encourage and support electric vehicle use and to develop public transit and infrastructure that connects Americans seamlessly between home and work. I am proud of our continued efforts that have culminated in these impactful fixes and updates that will improve quality of life and support our communities into the future,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. 

Congressman DeSaulnier was proud to author the following initiatives that were included in H.R. 8870 as passed by the Committee:

• Reinstating the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Exemption Program, which would allow California to restart its program allowing solo drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles to use carpool lanes through 2031;
• Dedicated funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure; 
• Dedicated funding for transportation workforce development and training;
• Maintaining and improving the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Discretionary Grant Program, a program Congressman DeSaulnier was initially responsible for creating, to support technologies that facilitate transportation efficiency, safety, and accessibility;
• Requiring a study on national commuting trends, including telework and hybrid work arrangements, to help modernize transportation and community planning and improve commuters’ quality of life;
• Expanding access to universal changing tables at rest stops to support the needs of adults with disabilities and their caretakers by providing states with the information they need to build accessible rest areas;
• Increased data and transparency on the state of federal highway safety with a focus on truck underride crash data; and
• Studying whether the adoption of new contracting and acquisition standards at Amtrak may impact the cost and timeliness of projects. 

More information about these provisions and the full bill can be found here.

Congressman DeSaulnier is a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He is also a former member of the California Air Resources Board and former Chairman of the transportation committees in both the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.