The FAST Act has brought about a number of significant changes in the transportation industry. Two specific issues have recently surfaced regarding implementation and funding. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx spoke on the proposed multimodal freight connectivity system known as FASTLANE. Approximately $4.5 billion has been allocated through 2020, with $800 million allocated for this year. Recipients of funding for this highway improvement project will be announced later in the year.

Additionally, CSA overhaul has been initiated as a result of the passage of FAST Act legislation. This, Foxx indicates, will require a minimum of 2 years to complete before CSA scores will again be publicized (with new figures and analysis). Regulators are supporting a proposal to activate interim safety fitness standards until the new standards are approved and enacted, but members of congress warn that any such safety determinations would be premature and counterproductive.

FAST Act legislation was passed in December, marking the first major highway bill in a decade. We can expect ongoing changes as the ramification of this legislation continue to unfold. The FASTLANE and CSA announcements give transportation businesses more time to prepare for CSA optimization and compliance, and the potential to tactically target or avoid areas undergoing infrastructural improvement. To learn more about transportation news, legislation, and compliance, contact us.