FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Transportation Policy Reform

Original title: SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION: PERFORMANCE, NOT PRESCRIPTION

January 1, 2016

transportation infrastructure federal-regulation performance-management

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

This hearing explores a potential shift in how federal transportation funds are managed, which could change the regulatory requirements and flexibility for state departments of transportation and local infrastructure projects.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

State Departments of Transportation

These agencies would have more flexibility in choosing construction and design strategies if performance-based measures are adopted.

U.S. Department of Transportation

The agency would shift its focus from enforcing specific design mandates to monitoring and setting performance targets.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation held a hearing to discuss shifting federal transportation programs toward a 'performance-based' model. This approach would focus on setting specific outcome goals rather than mandating exact design or construction methods for state and local agencies.

Why It Matters

Key Facts

The hearing took place on March 24, 2015, in the Russell Senate Office Building.
The Subcommittee discussed moving from 'prescriptive' regulations (mandating specific designs) to 'performance-based' measures (setting target objectives).
The goal of the proposed shift is to allow regulated entities more discretion in how they achieve federal transportation targets.
The hearing included testimony from the U.S. Department of Transportation, state transportation officials, and academic experts.
This was the fourth hearing held by the Subcommittee regarding the reauthorization of surface transportation programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'performance-based' transportation policy mean?

It means the federal government sets specific goals or outcomes to be achieved, but allows states and local agencies to decide the best methods to reach those goals.

Why is the government considering this change?

Proponents argue that prescriptive mandates can be costly, time-consuming, and require federal regulators to have technical expertise that may be better handled at the local level.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Shift toward performance-based regulation

The hearing marks a clear policy push by the Senate Subcommittee to reduce federal prescriptive mandates in favor of outcome-based metrics for infrastructure.

Deb Fischer U.S. Department of Transportation

Connected Entities

personJohn D. Graham“Dean, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University”Map →

personPeter M. Rogoff“Under Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation”Map →

personDeb Fischer“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation”Map →

personDavid B. Nichols“Director, Missouri Department of Transportation”Map →

personCory Booker“Ranking Member of the Subcommittee”Map →

personPeter Sweatman“Director, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz5
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools