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The Trump administration established its infrastructure priorities last week, key to allowing the revision and accelerating construction.
“We want to rationalize the rules and regulations on what you make as much as possible,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday During an infrastructure conferenceAhead of the process of re -authorization of the Congress’s surface transport in late autumn.
At the conference, Duffy signed an agreement with Texas Dot, which allows him to take more ownership of environmental permit requirements, to try to help the state build infrastructure projects faster and serve as a model for other states.
Duffy also said that he would work with Congress to properly finance the country’s road system and spoke about the withdrawal of the initiatives of Biden’s time. The Agenda “America is re -built” of Duffy Includes, according to Thursday Dot’s launch:
- Improvement of transport safety.
- Accelerating the delivery of projects for transport projects, “reforming the national law of environmental policy and allowing, improving a federal decision and increasing the use of technology.”
- Investment in transport infrastructure that promotes economic growth, including the investment of the private sector.
- Strengthening of collaborations with the states and other interested parties.
The dowry was also announced $ 488 million in funding through the creation program For 30 infrastructure projects across the country, ranging from bridge substitutions to flooding resilience efforts.
Nepa changes in advance
In a Letter that same dayDuffy urged rulers across the country to assume NEPA’s responsibilities and to take leadership in the delivery of the project. Historically, federal agencies have been responsible for performing environmental reviews and preparing documentation.
“The driving of project delivery efficiency through regulatory rationalization is one of the main priorities [of the DOT]”The letter says.” That is why I write to encourage your state to take advantage of the unique legal authority and assume the federal environmental review process by virtue of the National Law of Environmental Policy. “
Duffy also cited Nepa’s authority when asked about the Trump Administration’s priorities in the Audience of re -authorization of surface transport on July 16saying that the law of the bed is “costing too much and takes too much”.
“We are actually using our unique contracting authority that has not been used in the past. We are achieving a CEO commitment with us,” Duffy said in sight.
Representative Daniel Webster (R-FLA.) Witness that most railway projects occur under the right of existing roads and asked if routine maintenance and replacement projects could be eligible for categorical exclusion by virtue of NEPA.
“This is a broad question, but with balance, yes, I think they should have categorical exclusion,” said Duffy.
Change the infrastructure
The most recent surface re -authorization was included in the broader law of investments in infrastructure and jobs, which expires in September 2026. Congress exceeded replacement law.
In view of re -authorization, Duffy said that the dowry wants to focus on innovation and “the efficiency with which we can deliver these projects”. When representative David Rouzer (RN.C.) asked about the potentially consolidated and smaller programs IIJA, Duffy agreed and said he wants to simplify the department’s subsidy process.
“We have 12 different programs in terms of subsidies and then technology and programming and computers. Everything is different, all under dowry. We want to consolidate us, and so we can have a control board where you can see where your subsidies are located, your components can see:” Where is my subsidy, how fast is it moving quickly? “, Said Duffy.
Webster also asked Duffy if the creation of a federal infrastructure bank, which would only allow private investment, could complement current federal financing tools.
“I think there is a role to play in private capital, I would agree with this,” said Duffy. “Much of the private capital I see arrives is foreign private capital and it would be nice to see more North -American private capital because some of these returns are quite good.”
Representative Chris Pappas (DN.H.) asked about mass dismissals at Dot Transport Agencies and others The Federal Road Administration has experienced a 26% reduction In force since May, according to Reuters. Pappas said that many dowry offices were already underlined and expressed concern that they did not “have enough staff to fulfill their critical mission to our state dowry that provide assistance and delivery of front -line transport projects”.
Duffy replied that the agency “retained all critical security positions”, adding: “We try to do more with less and if we are ineffective and we need more people on board to ensure -we will carry out the mission.”
Others to take away
Representative Jesús Garcia (D-IL.) Request the support of the Disadvantaged Business Business Program, which increases the participation of certain small companies in federally funding transport projects and asked DFFY that he does not shy away from small business transport resources, which provide technical assistance and technical advice.
“If you want preferences for race and sex, I think it is not constitutional,” said Duffy.
Duffy also indicated the conditional support for railway projects, emphasizing that numerous rules and permits promote the cost of building -in the United States versus other places. Agency said on Thursday that I was granting $ 4 billion to UNPENT Subsidies for California High Speed Railway And you can try to recover previously awarded funds, according to Smart Cities Dive.
“I am open: Give a lot of money to invest in high -speed railway, I want to see a project that we can do,” said Duffy. “I have been provisionally supported Las Vegas and I want to see how they do. There were conversations about Dallas in Houston.”
Representative Dusty Johnson (RS.D.) said he was planning to introduce a bill that would ban federal transport dollars for states that do not comply with immigration and customs agents. Judge in June ruled illegalAccording to CBS News.
“I can’t agree with you more, if you allow your city to burn, or even at the, when we allow bikers to destroy our streets, the federal taxpayer should not return and rebuild -when they allow it to be destroyed,” said Duffy.
In June, protests broke out against ice raids in Los Angeles, but Were largely peaceful And the destruction was limited in a scope and to a small area, ABC News reported.
The point wants Feedback on surface transport prioritiesAccording to a request for information entitled “to advance a surface transport proposal that focuses on the most fundamental infrastructure needs in America,” he published Monday.
