SAFETEA-LU is a $244.1 billion, five-year federal transportation funding bill passed by Congress and signed by the President on Wednesday, August 10, 2005. The legislation is the long-awaited successor to the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which expired on Sept. 30, 2003. TEA-21 was extended 12 times while Congress negotiated a new federal surface transportation bill.

SAFETEA-LU authorizes funding for fiscal years 2005 through 2009. When combined with enacted spending levels for fiscal year 2004, the six-year nationwide transportation spending authorizations will total $286.5 billion, representing an increase of more than 31 percent over TEA 21 levels. Under SAFETEA-LU the six-year total spending on transit programs and projects will reach $52.6 billion, while spending on highway programs and projects will reach $233.9 billion.

What this new legislation means for Michigan:

• SAFETEA-LU is projected to provide Michigan with approximately $239 million more in federal highway funds each year than we received under TEA-21.

• Michigan will receive $108 million per year in public transit funds from 2006 through 2009—an increase of $28 million per year or 39 percent over the funding Michigan previously received.

• Increased highway and transit funding translates into more jobs for Michigan.

• Michigan will get back more of the federal gasoline tax revenue we send to Washington, D.C; under TEA-21 Michigan’s return was 90.5 cents on the dollar; by the end of SAFETEA-LU, Michigan’s return will be 92 cents on the dollar.

• The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will reassess our Five Year Program in the context of this new legislation and make adjustments based on available funding and system condition goals.

• There are many new programs included in the new bill that will benefit the citizens of Michigan.

• SAFETEA-LU includes earmarked funding for 171 transportation projects in Michigan, with a total value of  $643,304,000.

• MDOT is in the process of reviewing this massive, 1700-plus-page legislation; please check back for updates and additional information.