2007 Lane County Federal Priorities

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i Federa~Priorities 2007 Introduction • Lane Transit District started service January 14, .2007, on its first bus rapid transit line, the EmX Green Line, and has already seen more than a 30 percent increase in ridership. The I Federal Transit Administrator was present to celebrate the inaugural day of service and to ~ ride on the specially designed rapid transit bus, which has ahybrid-electric propulsion system that is more fuel-efficient and requires fewer interruptions for maintenance. ) Along with the specific requests in this year's Federal Priorities booklet, there are other. issues we -hope you will consider: ~ • Reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act -- The significant displacement to our l ...communities created. by the.. lapse of the .Secure Rural Schools and Community. Self- 1 Determinations Act of 2000. has started taking a toll on our capacity to provide safe, healthy conditions for families, children, and businesses. It has started to erode our ability to build and maintain safe and efficient surface transportation infrastructure,. and it has opened the valve on the migration of civil servants away from county government that will soon become } a torrent. We appreciate the diligent and unwavering efforts by the Oregon delegation to 1 extend this act, and we renew our pledge to support you. in every way possible to be successful on this top priority during the 2007 Congressional year. j • FAA Reauthorization -- The priority for aviation in the 110th Congress is the Federal ;~ ' Aviation Administration Reauthorization. It is essential to the Eugene Airport that the legislation #ully fund the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the .requested level of $3.7 billion. At that level, Eugene will be able to sustain its capital plans that include .discretionary. grants for. a new. fire station .for Aircraft Rescues and .Fire Fighting (ARFF) and '~ an environmental enhancement project (deicing containment and aircraft washing station). A minimum authorization of $3.2 billion is .required to .protect existing levels of entitlement ~ grant funding. Airports. also seek the .renewal of budgetary .safeguards that. guarantee -' appropriations over amulti-year period. Other entitlement grant-dependent planned projects that face uncertainty include the ` - completion of air cargo improvements, taxiway and ramp pavement rehabilitations, and terminal debt service. All of these planned projects are .included in the Airport Division's , capital plan and have appropriate match budgeted. ' '' ,, Second only to reauthorization and funding of the AIP program, proposed increases to the .Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) maximum from $4.50 per passenger to $6.00 per passenger would provide welcome flexibility for airports in financing capital projects. The r aviation legislation should also authorize continuation of the Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) grant .program at $35 .million, and continuation of the Essential. Air Service (EAS) program at existing levels. • U.S. Olympic Track and -Field Trials--- Of special interest to us -this year are the U.S. ~. Olympic Track and Field Trials to beheld in Eugene from June- 27 to July 6, 2008. The f . - University of Oregon's-Hayward Field is an icon .among track enthusiasts, having previously hosted the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1972, .1976, and 1980.. The Trials are being touted as the ~ single largest national championship track meet irr the world and will :host 1-,000 athletes as they compete to represent Team USA: in the.. 2008 Olympic games. to be held in .Beijing, China. u ` l