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[From Thomas, a service of the U.S. Congress through its Library.
Check for accuracy before citing or quoting.]
[Omissions are indicated by ellipses: "* * * * *"]
49 734 cc
Calendar No. 468
105 th Congress
Report
SENATE
2d Session
105 249
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL,
1999
July 15, 1998.--Ordered to be printed
Mr. Shelby, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following
REPORT
[To accompany S. 2307]
The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 2307) making
appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes,
reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.
* * * * *
BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS
(limitation on obligations)
Appropriations, 1998 ($25,000,000)
Budget estimate, 1999 (31,000,000)
Committee recommendation (31,000,000)
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics [BTS] was established in
section 6006 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
[ISTEA], to compile, analyze, and make accessible information on the
Nation's transportation systems, collect information on intermodal
transportation, and enhance the quality and effectiveness of the
statistical programs of the Department of Transportation. For fiscal
year 1999, the Committee recommends a funding level of $31,000,000.
BTS offices include the Director, Statistical Programs and Services,
Transportation Studies, and the Office of Aviation Information [OAI]. In
addition, effective January 1, 1996, the responsibility to collect motor
carrier financial data was transferred to the BTS after the sunset of
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The Office of Aviation Information collects and compiles financial
and traffic (passenger and cargo) data. This information provides the
Government with uniform and comprehensive economic and market data on
individual airline operations. This program includes a small field
office located in Anchorage, AK, which provides consumers and the
Government with airline data related to essential air service and the
intra-Alaskan mail rate program. The statistical aviation data compiled
by OAI includes: airline passenger traffic statistics, ontime
performance data by carrier, financial performance and certification
data, fuel purchase and consumption, and other business and consumer
directed statistics. These statistics are vitally important to the
Federal Government and the aviation industry. In some cases, it is
statutorily required that these statistics be used by the Federal
Aviation Administration and the Office of the Secretary of
Transportation in allocation of trust funds, aviation bilateral
negotiations, and other Federal transportation policy decisionmaking.
Railroad rationalization and diversion analysis .--The Committee
directs that of the funds provided, $375,000 be for a railroad
rationalization and diversion analysis. The Committee notes that
railline abandonments and diversion of traffic from railroads to trucks
are having a significant impact on rural grain-producing regions. Major
grain producing States in the Midwest have experienced significant
reductions in railroad service from 1965 to 1995. This research project
would develop nationwide capabilities to analyze the impacts of
grain-traffic diversion from railroads to highways, and provide
important planning information for State and local governments. In
addition, the recent shortages of rail cars for grain transportation
have created diversion of grain shipments from rail trucks. The main
objectives of this project should be to: (1) document the extent of
railroad traffic diversion and its likely consequences on highway
budgets; (2) forecast the scope of potential future traffic diversions
as a result of changes in railroad rate structures, shortages of grain
cars or poor management of rail car spotting, and additional line
abandonments; (3) estimate the likely impacts of future traffic
diversions on State and local highway needs; and (4) formulate potential
asset management strategies and policy alternatives. The Committee
encourages the Bureau to work with North Dakota State University to
carry out this project.
* * * * *
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