Long-Term Transportation Bill: Deal Reached

After nearly 33 months of short-term funding extensions, House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement regarding the Surface Transportation Bill that will streamline the environmental project review process. A Final Conference Agreement report was submitted to the White House today and is currently awaiting President Obama’s approval.

The new legislation—which is a compromise between the $109 billion two-year bill the Senate approved in March and the three-month bill approved by the House in April—will authorize $79.4 billion for highways, $17.1 billion for transit, $1.4 billion for highway safety programs, as well as funding to last until September of this year.

The bill also includes provisions that will make important changes in surface transportation policy, including accelerating highway and transit project approval and reducing the number of federal surface-transportation programs and funding categories. In addition, a $1.75 billion funding boost will be given to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act over the next two years, up from just $122 million a year now.

Major cutbacks included:  

•  language that would have allowed quick approval for the Keystone pipeline;
•  a provision that would block the EPA from regulating coal ash as hazardous waste; and
•  $1.4 billion in aid for the Land and Water Conservation Fund

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica called the measure “the jobs bill for the 112^th Congress,” adding that it “provides necessary, real reform that focuses our limited resources on critical infrastructure needs.”

LEED 2012 to LEED v4: What You Need to Know

Responding to feedback from industry professionals, the USGBC has decided to delay the launch of LEED 2012 until at least June 1, 2013. Along with the date, the name has also been changed—to LEED v4. To compensate, LEED 2009 has been extended for a full three years, allowing time for incentive teams to initiate the shift between LEED versions. The setback was based on three main concerns:

1. The proposed changes in the rating system were too extensive, too quickly.
2. Some of the changes needed more refinement as newer approaches need to be applied.
3. Many of the resources required to achieve needed credits would not be available by the time LEED 2012 would have been launched.

The evolution from LEED 2009 to LEED v4 next year promises to bring a stronger user experience along with better performance management features that will increase efficiency and improve indoor environmental quality. Some of the most important changes we can expect are:

• New Market Sectors: Data Centers, warehouses and distribution centers, hospitality, existing schools, existing retail, and LEED Homes Midrise will all be included in v4.
• A More Rigorous Rating System: Along with advances in technology and acceptance of LEED and green building practices, the rating system will become more stringent.
• Credit Weightings: In line with the rating system, the credit weightings will also have higher standards.

Stay tuned to RedVector and the GreenView blog for the latest LEED v4 updates!