Reauthorized many of the administrations responsible for ensuring the safety of surface Transportation System including fm csa, and its a and h tsa, our witnesses can discuss the implementation. And identify issues the committee should consider as we prepare for transportation reauthorization. That place a greater focus on the nations Freight Network including establishing infragrant program. Others like tiger grants are critical to our nations transportation infrastructure. I hope the witnesses will provide the country with an update on efforts to improve our infrastructure and how grants are being utilized. The Hummus Committee considers reauthorizing fast act i plan to work closely with Ranking Member cantwell and others on both sides of the aisle too, to authorize the build discretionary grants, reauthorize amtrak, continue to enhance freight and Passenger Rail network, innovative Transportation Technologies across modes, coordinated research, develop and and deployments, advance Highway Safety initiatives focused on multimodal Freight Networks through programs. Mister cantwell and i are committed to improve our coastal and inland for its. Safety is a top priority for this committee and the department of transportation with 37,000 highway deaths in 2017. Sadly, deaths in cars happen when they are parked. I introduced the cars act with senator blumenthal, to prevent deaths of children left in unattended vehicles. In my state of mississippi there were 18 such fatalities, these tragedies should be addressed immediately through technological improvements and enhanced education efforts, the hot cars act would move us in the right direction. And transportation challenges. Let me congratulate secretary chalfant her efforts to prepare for those challenges and emerging technologies including the safe testing and deployment of Autonomous Vehicles. Until Autonomous Vehicles are pervasive and used commercially there is an urgent need for Truck Drivers to move our nations goods. I know the fm csa is working on a Pilot Program to meet this need by studying the feasibility of allowing 18 to 20yearold drivers to operate trucks in intestate commerce. The conversation regarding what other steps can be taken to address the shortage of Truck Drivers. There is much to discuss, safety and reliability of our nations Transportation System and prepare for reauthorization and the future of service transportation. I look forward to the testimony by the panel of witnesses and i recognize the Ranking Member, senator cantwell for opening remarks. Thanks for holding this hearing and to the witnesses for being here. Every day millions of vehicles move billions of dollars worth of goods all over our increasingly connected global marketplace. At the heart of this global marketplace, that manufacturers rely on to get products to market and speed is critical in the 21stcentury economy, farmers and manufacturers cant move their goods efficient they dont just lose the sale but the market share and shelf space and opportunity to compete. Regardless where you grow or make your product whether it is in the heartland or on the coast the worldclass port system is good for business. Right now we are falling behind. If we dont modernize our Ports Companies and countries all over the world will turn elsewhere. Ports all over america are facing competition from nations meeting robust longterm investments and infrastructure. I want to thank chairman wicker for recognizing the role it plays in our economy and look forward to working with him on a comprehensive package. In the past act committee fought for funding for multimodal freight infrastructure. Not only does this fuel job growth and American Economic competitiveness, it also increases safety. In the state of washington just one suggested Railroad Crossings in seattle cost 9. 5 million a year in Economic Activity by eliminating this choke point. We can speed up Freight Movements coming from the heartland to our ports and global markets. Freight infrastructure initiatives such as chrissy and infra are designed to do that. The fact the reauthorization, i hope we will look to increase levels of funding to meet the Strong Demand for these programs. As we invest in transportation improvements we must keep safety at top of mind according to pulmonary nhtsa data there were a staggering 36,000s traffic fatalities in 2018. That is an average of 100 people dying each day on our national roadways. The overall crash fatality number dropped from 2017, nhtsa reported cyclist fatalities so i support developing new Vehicle Safety technologies like other innovations to be deployed through our fleet and to continue to make sure we are meeting the challenge of pedestrian and cyclist safety. We also need to innovate the area of transportation that is imperative in the area of global warming. According to the epa our transportation sector is responsible for 29 of us Greenhouse Gas emissions. This is an area where smart policies combined with American Ingenuity can make a difference. This committee is involved in this issue before the historic 2009 agreement, with consensus among Auto Industry state regulators, bipartisan people in this committee and the congress. I dont agree with the administration of the proposal to rollback fuel efficiency standards. I hope the committee will play a role in moving us in the right direction. Working with all of you and meeting our Transportation Safety efficiency and infrastructure for the future. Thank you. We will begin testimony. And move down this table, you are recognized, welcome. Thank you for inviting us to testify about our work to improve safety and lead innovation for the Transportation System. As far as progress in planting delivery reforms and fixing americas surface transportation or fast act, it is an honor to testify before this committee. Safety is secretary chows priority and the department has gotten started. We are coded reducing transportation related fatalities across the Transportation System. The department has adopted a systematic approach that mitigates risks and encourages change in infrastructure and behavior to datadriven Risk Mitigation was one approach is the Department SafetyData Initiative through Pilot Projects, we are seeking to advance our ability to integrate existing data with big data sources, use advanced analytics to provide new insights into safety risks and create data visualizations to help decisionmakers arrive at safety solutions. We are wrapping up the first phase of Pilot Projects that seek new ways to finance is to fundamental Traffic Safety questions. In another aspect of safety the development and deployment of Automated Vehicle technologies moving rapidly. We expect this pace to accelerate over the next decade. The Department Release preparing for the future of transportation which advances our commitment to supporting the safe integration of automation into the surface Transportation System. To ensure safety and not a nation the Department Must protect 5. 9 ghz safety band of radio spectrum. This band is critically important for reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities while mitigating congestion. All channels of the safety been are actively used today with 80 connected vehicles in the United States alone. The department does not promote any particular technology over another and we encourage the automotive industry, Wireless Technology companies and other innovators to continue developing multiple technologies that leverage the safety band. With regards to Fast Track Delivery provisions im proud to report the department is acted on all project delivery rules required by map 21 and the fast act. Currently the Environmental Review process is complex and inconsistent for project sponsors. It is critically born to protect the environment, safeguard our communities while reducing project delays. If we make a better and more timely decisions transportation agencies can deliver Critical Infrastructure projects across the country and most importantly associated safety benefits. The department is taking additional actions that expand these reforms implementing one federal decision. They improve the process by increasing transparency and accountability while also expanding early coordination with agencies and stakeholders. Additionally new technologies may not always fit precisely into existing regulatory structure. Potentially resulting in a slower pace of transportation innovation. The department announced the creation of the nontraditional and emerging Transportation Technology or net counsel, and internal deliberative team tasked with identifying and resolving jurisdictional and regulatory gaps. These gaps may impede the department of Technology Like tunneling, Autonomous Vehicles and other innovations. The Council Address challenges of uncertainties in obtaining necessary authorizations and permits by ensuring the traditional modal silo do not impede deployment of new technology. In closing safety remains the governments number one priority and we are committed to improving safety while leading innovation in the Transportation System. Chairman, Ranking Members, thank you for your time today and i will answer your questions. Good morning, chairman wicker, Ranking Member cantwell, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify to discuss the administrations role in ensuring safety in the nations rail system. The mission of fra is to enable the efficient movement of people and goods for a Strong America now and in the future. With secretary chows leadership, we execute the mission in many ways. Fra enforces critical safety regulations and partners with industry develop and promote regulatory and nonregulatory solutions to safety issues. Fra also seeks to manage federal investment and rail infrastructure, in a costeffective and efficient manner and pursues research and development to advance Innovative Technologies and best practices in Railroad Operations and maintenance. We have seen great advances in railroad safety, the train accident rate, and the injury rate. Great crossing and trust remains the leading causes of all rail related deaths. As the demand for Passenger Rail transportation in the United States grows, responsible for ensuring all of our rail systems, the safest and most Efficient Network this country has ever seen. Safety is fras top priority and people and technology play a critical role. With proactive approaches focusing resources on top safety issues while continuing Innovative Research the further advancement and Rail Technology investing in rail infrastructure. Fra announced 326, the selection of 300 million in grant funds under consolidated infrastructure Safety Improvement grant program. With significant investments directed to Great Crossing tracks. Fra is prioritizing ptc and prevention, rate crossing safety and close call reporting program commonly referred to as c3 rs. Railroad success implementation remains at the top of the agenda. As i said many times before the hearing, the implication of ptc and rail operations represents the most fundamental change in rail Safety Technology in more than a century. With 20 months remaining until the statutory deadline the department and fra will continue to provide extensive Technical Assistance and perform comprehensive oversight to host and tenet railroads and hold the trailer accountable for the timely implementation of an interoperable ptc system and all lines subject to statutory mandate. Going to prevention and Great Crossing, it is a top fra agenda and preventing incidents and Railroad Property and safety. Trespassing on Railroad Property, and grade crossing incidents are the second. Together, over the past ten years they accounted for 95 of all rail related fatalities. One of my top objectives is to lead, promote and strengthen efforts among all public, private and government stakeholders with safety issues and prevention strategies. And it is a voluntary fra program and participating railroads and employees to improve Safety Culture in their organizations and proactively identify and address safety issues before accidents occur. Fra first piloted the c3 rs program in 2007 with engine craft employees and four railroads. Since then the probe has grown to 15 railroad switch 23 commercial involved in the craft, Going Forward fra is prioritizing expansion of the 3 rs program along with other industry partnerships with sharing information among all stakeholders enabling the effective identification analysis. With real operating environment. And the railroads themselves to lead to the next generation of Safety Improvements. Fra is committed to continuing to work with all stakeholders that achieve this level of safety. Mister martinez. Chairman wicker, Ranking Member cantwell and members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to testify about progress implementing the fast act. An honor to testify before the committee today. As you know if ncsas primary focus is to improve safety among large trucks and buses on nations roadways. Today i would like to update you on several key areas of focus for the agency. First we are moving forward on refining motor carrier data. We conducted correlation study of the compliance safety Accountability Program, and made recommendations to us in the july 2017 report. We accepted those recommendations and published corrective action plan and continuing other efforts to complete other efforts in those area. That has been a longstanding concern of drivers and motor carriers. Fm csa launched a Crash Preventability Demonstration Program in july 2017 to review certain crashes, scenarios to determine if the driver could have prevented the crash. To date, 3000 preventability terminations have been made on eligible crashes and about 93 of them were found to be not preventable. This is good for the carrier, for the driver and also the fm csa because we eliminated that. Secretary chow announced we can continue the Program Beyond its original july 29th 20919 ending date. There will be a federal register notice explaining changes to the program. Mister chairman, we are implanting the drug and alcohol which identifies drivers who have committed either drug or alcohol violations making them in eligible to operate commercial Motor Vehicles until they complete the required return to duty process. In january 2020 the clearinghouse will conduct positive test results and refusals. The fm csas finalizing implementation on electronic logging devices in accordance with the fast act requirements. That requires most drivers to the onlys to report information about their hours of service. Its first compliance statement in december 2017, the full enforcement began on april 1, 2018. The last limitation deadline for Companies Using grandfathered automatic onboard recording devices is december of this year. Of the nearly 300,000 driver inspections that have been conducted and april 1, 2018, less than 1 of drivers inspected have been cited for failing to happen or grandfathered aob it when they were required to have one. Service violations decreased by 52 over the last year. The eod implementation has also highlighted the current areas of Service Regulations that may need adjustment or improvement. Last year the fm csa requested Public Comments on 4 hours of service areas. We received 5200 Public Comments during the Comment Period. Also last year we conducted five public listening sessions with stakeholders concerning potential changes to areas discussed in the notice. Secretary chow announced the agency is moving forward with the proposed rule, this proposed rule is under final stages of review. We receiving comments on our proposal and moving forward for regulatory changes. Finally, mister chairman, to suggest ways to expand on fast act achievements. Recommendation or Agency Proposes is to conduct an updated large Crash Causation study. Heres why. Multiple studies and data recommends most truck involved crashes are Driver Behaviors and errors. It further indicates other motors, not professional Truck Drivers are likely to be at fault. Since the last study conducted by fm csa, before 20012003, changes in technology, and more have occurred affecting driver performance. A new study will help them identify factors that may contribute to growth in fatal truck crashes. Analyzing these factors will drive new initiatives to reduce crashes on roadways. The public expect a safe Transportation System, continued support of this committee, if ncsa will continue sharing the solemn commitment to improve safety for all road users. I will be happy to answer more questions. Thank you for having myself and my colleagues here to testify, good morning. Since i last testified before this Committee Last year, the national highway Traffic Safety administration has advanced numerous initiatives to improve safety. As you know in each of the recent years, 37,000 and more lives have been lost needlessly in Motor Vehicle crashes across the United States. For you and for me, friends and neighbors, constituents, at nhtsa we employ Risk Management best practices to identify, assess and mitigate and continuously improve our management of roadway safety risks. I appreciate the opportunity to provide an update on nhtsas work on motor Vehicle Safety and roadway safety for all americans. Nhtsa challenge the nation to save lives by addressing growing risk of drug Impaired Driving. The agency was the campaign, if you feel different you drive different. A Public Education campaign and Enforcement Campaign drive and get a dui. I would like to commend this committee for its ongoing support of high visibility Enforcement Campaigns and look forward to our continued cooperation on these. Nhtsa has awarded grant funds to support training for lawenforcement officers to recognize drivers who are impaired by drugs including opioids and marijuana. This is one example of nhtsa is critical partnerships with the Law Enforcement community. For more than 30 years nhtsa supported the development of competence of Emergency Medical Services or ems. I feel fortunate to have had the blessing earlier in my career to serve as 911 dispatcher and also as emergency medical technician driving ambulance and providing patient care and i know how important these lifesaving services are in our neighborhoods and communities. In january of this year after years of Work Together with stakeholders published agenda 2015 to provide National Leadership in creating more people centered ems system for the future. Nhtsa works with the department of commerce on grants to support state, local and tribal efforts in delivering optimal and stronger 911 Services Including migration to next generation 911 services. The agencies together expect to reward 100 million in next generation 911 Grant Funding soon. Nhtsa as Regulatory Priorities for 2019 include several makings to increase safety and reduce economic burden in our communities. Nhtsa intends to remove existing regulatory barriers that prevent berries from adopting safety features including finalizing a rule to adaptive nhtsa moves ahead with rulemaking on Warning System to increase seatbelt usage including rear seat passengers to improve crash protection of backseat occupants. Nhtsa plans to standardize electronic disclosure of a dominant information which may help state and what vehicle departments facilitate a paperless transaction for vehicle registration. One of nhtsas most important regulations addressing safety is the saver affordable fuelefficient rule or the safe will. It is safer than older cars. They are carefully studying whether costly standards discourage consumers for replacing their older car with a newer car that is safer, cleaner and more fuelefficient. The proposed rule was published last year and agencies are working to issue a final rule soon. Nhtsa is committed to ensuring safety while encouraging innovation. We will continue working with federal agencies to support the United StatesGlobal Leadership in the safe testing, validation and deployment of Automated Vehicles and other lifesaving technologies. Thank you for your time and im pleased to answer your questions. Thank you to all the witnesses and we are invited to begin our questions. Let me begin with Ronald Batory. A decade of litigation that seems to be over, the Supreme Court did not appeal from the association of american railroads to review in lower court, addressing whether amtrak and fra deliver ontime performance metrics, and standards for trains. The litigation is over, amtrak, amtrak and fra may issue metrics. What can we expect to see with regard to the new metrics ontime performance. Thank you for that. I can sit before all of you and tell you amtraks history, i have been in the Railroad Industry, and been highly involved in the dispatching of passenger and freight trains. With that said, logged out of part b of the improvement act, standard metrics, fra and amtrak, nearly a decade ago, substandard metrics that we are now engaging in a small commission without support to evaluate legitimacy of those standards started two days ago and it was very productive, chaperoned with policy and Development Section and Legal Section and i will share this piece of trivia that is factual. The first four Rail Transport sector was identical to what the Airlines Reported for the first four months of their ontime performance which was 77. 9 . What did you mean by how you measure . What i mean by how you measure is first of all capacity and demand are the schedules accurate . What we know is some schedules out there go back to 1960 and the world has changed since 1960. In one instance the train operates from a different station. There is no longer any double track, no longer any automatic train control and no longer operate at 90 miles an hour. They have a 5 hour and 30 minute schedule. Thats the type of Due Diligence that is required and to take what somebody develop ten years ago would be a flawed mistake, so as a result we are doing our Due Diligence to review what our predecessors came up with and a product the consumer can rely on. He began a process two days ago. And and the Second Quarter of the processes. To thoroughly understand the amtrak position, the data that supports that position, to have each of the Host Railroad carriers, the bestperforming carriers and worstperforming carriers from a freight perspective. With those sessions completed, reaffirm or validate if you will, the train schedule amtrak came up with. Once those schedules have been violated, within amtrak and Host Railroads it is our intention to identify how we are going to measure. We cant keep using human measurements, human measurements. We start to have to look at technology, gps technology. And engage that process so we have good measurement tools and once we have good measurement tools we then get into the appropriate standards of metrics and once we have that what we need to focus on most of all is the consumer ontime performance and with that consumer ontime performance that is what i was referring to yesterday when amtrak reported 77. 9 in the airline industries. I would like to start with joel szabat about the freighters i mentioned in my opening comment. This is important to the Pacific Northwest but also to the nation because we ship about 18 tons, 18 billion tons of freight worth 19 billion, by 2035 the amount of freight expects to increase to 27 . More than it is today. The need for infrastructure are great and obviously with infra and the freight act we have been able to track investments to wear job creation actually is. My understanding is the department of transportation received 234 eligible applications, that was 12 billion in requests but only 26 projects were selected. Given the high demand, do you believe we should be working towards higher levels of funds or any kind of Economic Analysis of economic return would be if we did make that investment . Thank you for raising this important issue. The department agrees with you on the importance of freight in our transportation network. A couple of the major accomplishments that occurred with the fast act was first off we codify the changes in 2009, the discretionary Grant Programs especially Grant Programs we direct toward freight projects and secondly, a multimodal Freight Network and National Strategic plan we help break through the mobile silos established by statute. These were excellent accomplishments of the fast act and we look forward to seeing that continue in the reauthorization. You mentioned 234 project applied, 26 projects have been approved. This will always be a function of what we can afford. The transportation projects, that is a conversation we are having and will continue to have. I believe, when we make these investments you create more jobs. I would like to work with the department make sure we have an available number, what we would anticipate job creation would be if we funded the freight request or at least at a higher level than we are currently doing. Ronald batory, increasing safety, the same issue as we compete in a Global Economy and move the asian markets all over. At Great Crossings, i am not sure, should we be doing something more specifically target resources at great pricings . I believe every community in my state has a request for help with the crossing. Excellent question. I totally agree with you. Let me address it from two perspectives. As far as crossing safety, the communities and industry have worked very well in achieving the desired results that we are able to report today. First it is kind of interesting that in the last three decades Motor Vehicle registration in this country has increased 40 . We have more cars and trucks on the road. We reduced cooperatively. Overpasses and closing the crossings themselves. With communities in government and the Railroad Industry 27 . The number of trained Motor Vehicle accidents have decreased 72 over that time. Even though we had a significant decrease, the number of fatalities that decreased by 80 . There were 125 as of last year, 125 too many but we need to put together a program that was currently underway. It started october 31st of last year at dot when we brought the agencies together, and we had the summit which led into listening sessions and go into symposiums to layout the 5year plan to address this issue. I do believe the United States government spent over 4 billion of highway money going to section 130 that we really need to look at that section and identify whether or not there are ways to entice communities and industry to strengthen the protection at grade crossings using more technology. Basically what we have is nothing more than we had over the last 30 years. Im for improving it and will look forward to working with you on that and i know my time is expired but i wanted to let mister Ronald Batory answer that question but for heidi king, having fuel efficiency, important goals. I look forward to continuing to hear from you what we can do, thank you. Technology rather than traditional. What do you mean by that. It is an open field. We have great opportunity to exploit avenues of technology to reduce risk and enhance safety and with that it resides in the Transportation Department of railroads, mechanical department of railroads and Engineering Department of railroads and collectively we can be stronger, safer industry even though we think we are safe today, we can be safer tomorrow. I will give a couple examples with autonomous track inspection is one. Autonomous freight car inspection. The type of technology we are bringing on board that enhances the knowledge of the operator, if you will, strengthen his skill set as a result of what is going on as far as the train dynamics. There is a lot of good opportunity, Great Crossing protection, visualize this. There are exceptions how we developed technology, and Great Crossing protection you approach every day and look at flag stirrers. It is basically a dummy apparatus that is selfsustaining to itself. It has potential, you can have self diagnostics 7 x 24 x 365 communicating to the railroad, communicating something that is activated or failed in the community, theres a lot of good things that can emerge from this. What we asked the railroads to do is promote as much as they can in a way of need for waivers or Pilot Projects. Not to rush into it but developing facts and learning from those facts as far as how we can strengthen this industry and gravitate, we have such a good platform, it is the base of everything and go to performancebased rulemaking. It opens up all kinds of avenues of safety and efficiency for the Rail Transport industry and the communities in this country that relies on that. Thank you very much. Appreciate the committee, senator fisher who is chair of the transportation and safety subcommittee. Administrator martinez, one of the primary issues i heard about from drivers relating the trucking regulations is the need for more flexible hours of service requirements. As you noted in your testimony, fm csas process of completing a notice of proposed rulemaking related to the hours of service. When do you expect to submit that mpr m for Public Comment. This is an interesting process. We have gone out with a mpr m to our stakeholders, over 5200 substantive comments that inform the agency. We are in the final stages. It is a process, iterative with the process of management and budget but i believe we are in the final stages of that process. I am hopeful, it is a date on it. I met yesterday with our state director of agriculture and in that meeting we have stakeholders from the ag industry across nebraska represented. We talked about the need for flexible hours of service, especially livestock haulers when they have live and perishable product, the issues they face, will the hours of Service Provide flexibility . This has been a tremendous process because we have been fully engaged with the associations representing not just livestock but agriculture as a whole and also our sister department, the department of agriculture to learn more about what the needs are, agriculture and livestock community. The hours of service, changes will apply across the board, but we are also, prepared advance notice of proposed rulemaking that would seek Public Comment on the definition of Agricultural Commodity which will inform us further. I hope you will continue to be open with me and work with me to address the flexibility issue that i think is desperately needed. Also as you know the fast act requires fm csa to remove certain compliance safety and Accountability Program information until the agency has completed a review of the program. As part of the review the fm csa, any deficiencies in the csa program, the National Academy of sciences before those scores can be made public again. Can you provide an update on the agencys work to review the csa scores . We have been actively engaged in the National Academy of sciences, we accepted their recommendations, we put forward the corrective action plan, one of the areas we have looked at is they put forward the concept of using an item response and seeing whether that could apply to the Trucking Industry that is still a work in progress but it shows signs of being better informing the agency and how we can use, how we can prioritize. That is what it is about. Until that time, the score should not be public but also we have worked as i said in my Opening Statement on a crash prevent Ability Program which essentially deals with crashes the driver and the carrier had no ability to prevent and we are able to eliminate those if brought to our attention. Administrator king, i have a few seconds left. I have been very concerned about drug Impaired Driving and what we are seeing, Nebraska State Patrol has arrested 100 drunk drivers. Can you elaborate on what nhtsas work is on drug Impaired Driving . How can we, for example, look at addressing limitations in the understanding of drugrelated a tally data that is out there . Thank you for asking. It is quickly important because we are seeing such a growth in use not only in opioids and marijuana but pharmaceuticals. What we are finding is we need to address 5 myths that it is safe to drive went into the use of a substance, that they are not going to get stopped, not going to be arrested, not prosecuted, not convicted. We are supporting through grant funds and providing education materials and fostering dialogue among stakeholders who can influence this to address each of those five links in the chain. We find Public Awareness is a critical part of that. We have been pushing hard on Public Education campaign. Most users of marijuana participated in Market Research we have developed are saying they believe they drive safer when they are high because they are very focused and being very cautious and we know from driver simulator studies it is not true. We are doing everything we can putting out more grant funds and supporting communities where the rubber hits the road to make sure we get ahead of the problem and educate consumers to make better decisions. As i mentioned earlier the Nebraska State Patrol has huge issues we see coming from the west end entry into the state so it is a big problem. I would be happy to partner. Thank you, senator fisher. I want to thank you for this important hearing, look forward to working with you as we build on the accomplishments. The next reauthorization, there are a few issues impact south dakota more than highway bills, rural states like south dakota rely on federal investment, transportation infrastructure to ensure the efficient flow of goods to domestic and global markets. Freight core doors, a critical component of the National Transportation on major highways and railways to regions that produce many agricultural and industrial commodities. The fast act required the dot to designate a multimodal Freight Networks to provide a comprehensive representation of the National FreightTransportation System, the interim network in 2016 was criticized by nearly every state as incomplete and excluded. Important highway rail freight corridors across the nation. Joel szabat, can you commit to reviewing states to ensure all freight corridors including those in rural areas are well represented in the National MultimodalFreight Network. Thank you for the question and i can commit that we willing to go beyond that to commit the we already are as of the end of the Comment Period, we received 123 total comments from state and other users looking for improvements in the plan and evaluating those. Miss king, nhtsa state and Community SafetyProgram Provides grants to all states to improve Driver Behavior and reduce different injuries for Motor Vehicle related crashes. They like south dakota prefer this Program Grant issued under the National PrioritySafety Program where state cannot qualify. Is this committee looks toward the reauthorization of the program can you commit to working to build on the work done in the fast act to increase the flex ability of these programs and improve Highway Safety. The safety and the communities. Mister martinez, in october 2018, senator fisher and i represent the same constituencies coming in october 2018 a coalition of livestock submitted a petition for an exemption, with Service Regulations and together with former senator nelson i sent a letter to fm csa in support of the agencys full consideration of this petition. In response fm csa provided official notice and requested Public Comment on the petition in february of this year. Could you provide an update on the current status of this petition and do you have a timeline for when you expect fm csa to take further action . The Comment Period is closed on that petition. We are currently reviewing the comments which over 350 comments so we will evaluate them. I hesitate to give a specific timeframe but obviously we will try to expedite the review as quickly as possible. I would encourage that. Ronald batory on may 14th i sent a letter along with senators blunt and young requesting an update on several regulatory actions incorporating emerging rail technologies into the regulatory framework. Could you speak to actions on the rulemaking initiatives mentioned in the letter specifically continuous rail testing for airbrake interval modernization . Thank you, when i received your letter i was very pleased with the reading of it because it is something i feel as i shared with senator wicker technology is the key to our success as far as reducing risk and enhancing safety. One that developed considerably in the past year has to do with autonomous track inspection. F are a naturally has a fleet of its own cars but the Railroad Industry has fleets of equipment for autonomous track inspection. Just to characterize it will take 30 seconds to put into context what autonomous track inspection is. If some of us were to leave here and go to new jersey ave. To virginia avenue tunnel and get on the railroad track, be protected and walked towards long bridge on the potomac we might find for talking purposes ten issues associated with the track structure and of those 10 issues two might be eminent the we might address within 24 hours that the other eight would take 30 days to address. Behind us you run into autonomous track vehicle, it might come up with 100 items. What would you rather have . Ten you and i found or the hundred in so far as reducing risk and enhancing safety and still takes human beings to go out and confirm it. That by itself we have engaged the Railroad Community to give us either petitions for waivers or petitions for Pilot Projects that expand autonomous track inspection to develop so that we can then establish, performancebased rulemaking and always have prescriptive minimum warmaking at the bottom insofar as track geometry standards. That is an example of exploiting technology for the betterment of the country and the Railroad Industry. We encourage continued use of those Pilot Programs and i will ask the record for any ideas you might have for us as congress to encourage Pilot Programs at fra. Thank you very much. Thank you to the testify ors. For heidi king, a lot of those advanced safety features that went into the development of autonomous cars, lane departure warnings, blind spot detection, automatic braking, automatic emergency braking, they significantly reduce crashes and i think one of the promises of Autonomous Vehicles, imagining a world with fewer car crashes and carbased fatalities and something has happened along the way where a lot of those pieces of tech can be implemented right now with cars that are driven by humans and so the question i have for you is to the extent that there is enough data that shows we can save lives now why are we in a voluntary regime where automakers are so slow to adopt these things that will certainly save lives . The idea that a person, you can buy a 22,000 car but if you want a certain thing that will make it less likely to die in a car crash that will be extra. Im not sure why we shouldnt just make that mandatory. That is a really good question, im glad you asked it. And something that become mandatory it must have a very consistent, repeatable Test Procedure and what we find is when the technology is new, for instance a certain kind of alert or blind spot detection we learn a lot from the fact that there is a difference for different folks adopting are different manufacturers designing different systems, that is the time of learning and if it seems appropriate to adopt the mandatory standard we can identify which of them is best. That is one of the reasons when a technology is first introduced we allow some Consumer Experience and innovation. You couldnt just make it mandatory and give them the fertility to do it however it makes sense . Under the laws we execute we have to have a consistent Test Procedure. We cant say do it and figure out whether or not we can confirm you have done it. We can talk a little more about that offline but when we have a federal motor Vehicle Safety standard we will have a Test Procedure and a consistent engineering decision which means theres only one way. A narrower set of alternatives. We are very excited to see the consumers are adopting technology. Has an example a couple questions. There is a smaller production in road deaths, a 4 increase in cycling, pedestrian death rose by 4 and cycling deaths went up by 10 . What is going on and what are you going to do about it . Recognizing the data that was released with an early projection, those numbers will change twice, one, when we should notice for 2018 with a fool or sample submitted by the state. Is this data valid . The data is indicative of a trend. Weve seen an increase in fatalities in bicyclists, in our work with states and Grant Programs, and state department at the local level. And local programs to improve bicyclists safety. They are appropriate for their condition. In a district, 20 of the fatalities in traffic situations are pedestrian. As opposed to pushing money to states and counties . We do that. We do research, behavioral research, mechanical research. We develop programs, Public Education materials. Let me ask a personal question. Is this alarming to you . As a former Law Enforcement officer who has worked crashes and taken care people were injured or killed, as a former 9 11 former 911 dispatcher and former emt working in my community yes, it is alarming and every single men and women nhtsa is committed 24 7 to do everything we can to support local Traffic Safety. We develop programs some of which are appropriate for distribution and application nationwide. Sometimes we need to address problems locally. I mentioned drug influenced driving. Other areas my time is expired but ive no idea what this has to do with pedestrian deaths and cyclist deaths going up precipitously. Thank you. So the chairman stepped out so im going to take the gavel and column myself. [laughing] so i appreciate this hearing, and im assuming all the witnesses are supportive of what we did four years ago which was a longterm fast act, that was a fiveyear authorization. Prior to that there had been 36 shortterm we authorizations what you dont think anybody regard as helpful. You all agree agreed we shoulde working on another longterm reauthorization in terms of highway transportation . Icy icing audience of all the h. We look forward to continue to work with you. Good. Let ask you a couple questions that relate to one of the things im going to focus on in this reauthorization is the permitting streamlining which in a secretary chao has been very focused on. Shouldnt take eight years to build a bridge. To permit a bridge in america, 19 years on those from planning to construction of our highways. We need to fix a broken federal permitting system. I knew the secretary is focused on that but the hearing is focused more on safety which is appropriate. Mr. Szabat, i would ask you in terms of the consideration of grants to be distributed by the build america bureau, you might know, but a lot of the members of this committee are members of the Armed Services committee. Does the agency take into consideration the role that commercial ports play with regard to National Defense company particular department of defense designated strategic ports such as the port of anchorage . And should congress consider this during the reauthorization of the fast act . As you know a lot of our commercial issues are deeply integrated with regard to National Security issues. Thank you for the question. Thank you for the question that touches on the previous role in the department. Thats what i asked you. I assumed you had an alternative ulterior motive. I think as youre you are awarn asking the question, there is no Statutory Authority within the department to consider the strategic nature of the port. Do you though . Whether you need the statutory consideration or not . Its what we would consider to be a plus factor. Should congress wish to make that a mandatory factor that would have to be done statutorily. Do you think thats a good idea . Thats an issue we look forward to working with you, committee staff, Committee Members interest in this to find a way forward. I look forward to working with you on that. As you view it as a plus factor i think most of us view it as a plus factor may get in statute would put emphasis on that. Ms. King, i want to follow up on a couple issues youve talked about in the questioning. You mentioned the education materials in Public Education campaign for Impaired Driving particularly with drugs beyond just alcohol Impaired Driving. Are you focusing that in particular with regard to states alaska or just talking to senator gardner incongruent that legalize marijuana. Is an area where focusing on to help the states in particular . Our initial work has been driving Public Education with respect to marijuana impairment. Because we felt in our Market Research that users feel that they drive better. Do you focus on certain states have legalized this weather is more activity. Have you given thought to focusing in the . Yes, we have first traveled o washington. We later traveled to denver in colorado to have meetings and learn from them and learn best practices have you travel to alaska yet . I have not yet. I i look forward to seeing yu soon. We are sharing best practices. States have been early legal visors of marijuana products Like Washington and colorado have a great deal to learn. Other states that were early medical marijuana adopters like california also has something to share. We visited places, iowa, new jersey, of the places. We just had a meeting in florida speedy can i get your commitment to get to alaska soon . We have these issues and its important. I would love that. Thank you for the honor to do so. Great. Let me ask a related question. Senator schatz was talking about in terms of bicycle traffic hotels. We also have a big community, cycling community. Diminutive municipality of, vision zero, working on a coordinate approach. Datadriven to have a Public Education, best practices as you mention with regard to these higher fratelli rates and injury rates for bicyclists. Is nhtsa doing work with local partners like vision zero to identify best practices, what you are learning how to get involved in that at the local level . Its important youre going from them and they are looking for new. One of the advantages of the local Community Groups working to vision zero or wrote to do which is more International Learning is that the solutions can be best adapted to local conditions. For instance, the infrastructure needs might be a part of it. Public education or traffic pattern might be a part of it. All of that can be incorporated and encouraged for adoption local laws where the local jurisdiction is stronger. Nhtsa supportive of all those efforts and welcomes any opportunity to support those efforts to drive local Traffic Safety. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator sullivan. Senator markey. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Administrator king, a very disturbed with the administration of rollback of the fuel economy standards, some 54. 5mile gallons to 37 miles per gallon. I think that it states that the Trump Administration our technological nihilists. [inaudible] put on the books would back out 3 Million Barrels of oil a day, which are still the equivalent of what we are inputting from overseas. And especially when we see incidents in the health of our moose and the other areas up the middle east. We can see how quickly the United States could get drawn into ostensibly a war over oil. And so our answer has to be that we are the technological giants and were going to invent the vehicles that backup the need for oil, and we will strengthen our hand diplomatically in the middle east very dramatically if we do that. Otherwise, we are over there primarily because of the oil. Lets just be honest about it. So i dont understand, ms. King, what your logic is in rolling back these fuel economy standards. But i will tell you that ultimately youre on weak ground because amongst other things pretty much the entire Auto Industry is protesting that youre taking this action that youre going to great at the fight in the country between all of the american states that follow the california waiver, and the Trump Administration. And they are safe its going to be very bad for business. So i guess what i would ask you to do is to explain whether or not you believe it is possible for the United States to reach 94. 5 miles per gallon . And is it wise for us just to stop asked the question this way. In your opinion is a wise just to stop at 2020 and not to advance all the way out to 2025 and a proven of julie come standards . Do you agree with that . I have good news that we have proposed rules but have not yet finalized it and in the proposal we solicited comment, the epa and its come on a wide range of options including the current standard that was issued in 2012. 2012. We are reviewing the comments edit not yet selected a pile. There is no rollback. There is consideration of six or 50700,000 comments on a very complicated and important role. Im very pleased after enthusiasm for that picture at your question speedy no, no. My enthusiasm is for the Auto Industry to reach 84. 5 miles per counter my enthusiasm was not for six and 50,000 50,000 commo be heard over this question. It is just to continue on the course to solve this problem. I am please to be representing consumers interested as well. I recognize the auto manufacturers have an important voice. Also want to make sure that consumers needs and safety are considered. As congress directed me and directed the epa to consider. I will just say this, that 13 federal agencies in november of 2018 concluded that if we continue with this as usual, the plan is going to warm by nine degrees fahrenheit by the year 2021. By the year 2100. So from my perspective this is just not an option. It also says that the seas are going to rise by 11 feet if we dont take action. So we have the blueprint from all our own federal agencies this is its a danger that we know Greenhouse Gases are the largest cost of it, and wales no, this is the largest single reduction that severed and propose by any law of any country in the history of the world. I just disagree with you given the emergency of the problem. Urgency if i may say fuel economy is also proconsumer, its prosafety, and the rules that are on the books right now are the answer. And i might come i just also want to say to you, mr. Batory, i know that theres been a withdrawal of the two person rule but im good to i will introduce the state freight act, that legislation would mandate twoperson crew Safety Standards of the Going Forward. I think that your agency has abdicated its responsibility to provide oversight and safety rules. But to actively declare that no state could take action as well just leaves a regulatory black mark that endangers mr. Chairman, i think its a much. I have senator scott and then senator tester. Mr. Szabat, can you tell me under, first of all thank you for being here and thanks for your hard work. Allocated 4. 5 billion in grants over the life of the fast act. How much has been spent, do you know any of you know . We had that information, send to depict my apology for not having it here in front of me but we can get that back to for the record. And he couldnt get it to me do take into consideration the amount of tax revenues, gas tax revenues that come in and how to allocate those 4. 5 million to about. Is for the discretion to grant program, thank you for the question, this is a good one. One of the factors we look at is the local match as opposed to what is being proposed for the grant itself as opposed to the overall tax rate of the state. Thanks. Mr. Martinez, my father was a truck driver. He would be excited now because Truck Drivers get paid a lot more than what he got paid when i was growing up. In florida, in florida you can drive in state from 18 to 20 but you cant cross the state line. I cosponsored a bill that senator young has allowed people start driving at 18 nationally. Whats, what you think about that . Thank you, senator. The good news is that we have recently undertaken the under 21 military Pilot Program at the direction of congress to study those who have had no carrier experience driving heavy trucks, either as a come out of the military, National Guard, reserves. We had started engaging with carriers and we need at least 200 200 participants to begin that Pilot Program. We also had an advance notice of proposed rulemaking out asking for input from the industry as to what you would look at it ie were going to both beyond that to a broader population. So will you take a position on senator youngs bill or not . Is a typical i knew. We generally speedy ask you all to take position and get feedback or not . We generally would not do that. What we will do as we are doing now is conduct a Pilot Program or study to see if we can get some data before we move forward on that. But obviously we want to engage with congress on this issue because i hit every day from the stake around the country. We understand there is a shortage of drivers, so we want to be helpful there, but our primary focus is to remain safety. Do you have any data that suggests the states that it reduced it to 18 like florida, that there are more issues there . And that is the problem that we face, that we dont have hard data on that and thats what we hope to get from this Pilot Program. I take your point that in large geographic state, florida, california and new york where im from originally, you can drive all over the state but you cant cross state borders. It make you scratch your head. The rule has been in place since the 1930s, so it is something, it deserves a good hard look now because things have changed. We have new technologies that may be able to monitor and tell us, not all drivers under 21 are the same. A lot more monitoring now. My father would not like to fill out the logbooks. I think he generally filled out when he got home. Which is probably not exact way you probably would like. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you. Senator tester. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to follow up on what senator scott was asking about. Your Pilot Program deals with 18yearolds . It would be under 21, 1820. Eighteen20. Can you tell me what youre measuring since they cant drive across state lines . In this Pilot Program weve been looking for individuals who have had, they must have had Prior Experience in the military but look, prior expert in military. They are not 18 years old anymore. Correct. So the point is how is this, because actually a of that deal with senator young. If were going to be able to do this and you want to get Accurate Information on whether this is right, that Pilot Program isnt going to carry what you need to know, i hate to tell you is your talk with probably that had tried experience truck industry and theyre probably eligible to drive across state lines right now if they want. I understand that and that is one of the judges of the Pilot Program. What i would recommend is because theres an education, to that bill that senator young and i have is about you guys try to come forth with an idea or and whether you support that are not because if the department to support it were not going to get it passed, in my opinion. Because of you but is concerned about safety. Just a sidebar. I just want to say one thing, ms. King, because i got into my question gender senator markey talked about the mileage standards and you talked about consumers. If the mileage standards were dropped i dont know what can some benefit they got. Oil Companies Got a benefit. Ive got a peterbilt and a previous. Eight miles versus about 99 miles ago because its a hybrid. I just think this is a huge step. Climate change aside, this is a huge step against the consumer. I mean, gasoline has gone up significantly, and, quite frankly, it cuts a pretty good hole in my pocketbook when i fill up my peterbilt. In fact, you better have a damn thick checkbook. And so i would encourage, i would encourage you to reinstate it where i was. It doesnt make any sense of the rebels his head at that direction. With the greatest country in the world until we liked President Trump and i were taking a backseat to everybody. This is crazy and i just, i cant, senator markey and i dont like we have everything ill you that we sure in hell agree on this. This is important. So mr. Batory i want to talk to you a little bit about amtrak. Theres the component in the fast act that allows you to work with on states, work with a pretty Broad Coalition of people and how thats going to work. Is there a saying kind of committee, and youre familiar with what it saying, our outlooks when or if you are not, but if there is the same kind of committee for longdistance routes for amtraks longdistance routes to talk about where you are going . Senator tester, i would appreciate that question. Its something thats come to my mind. Keep in mind speedy but do we we dont. Okay. Which is what the establishment of i think theres an opportunity. We have state supported under 750 miles, so take that business model, learn from it and it expand. So you would support it . I would. Okay good. Can you ten with a longterm vision is for amtraks . Look, ive been to europe once, and it was five years ago but ive got people go of all the time and the quebec and they raise about the Train Service. It just happened again this week in the absolutely raved about timeliness, cleanliness in userfriendliness. Are we looking to do away with our Train Service for passenger purposes with except whats going on in eastern seaboard, or over looking to expand it and make a better answer of states like montana to greater degree . There thereve been some actionn by amtrak, and i love to see all. Some stuff has made me upset, lets to put it that way. So do we have a longterm plan . Is it to privatize it, do away with it or to make it better . All youll get from he is an opinion. I think amtrak can best answer that question. All right, all right pixel last thing eyelet four blocks from here, okay. I get in the prius that gets 99 miles and every time i drive those four blocks somebody is look at their damn cell phone when the light turns green and backs traffic after i would do anything about that looks if we are what are we doing . Excuse me for running over, mr. Chairman. Yes. We have programs to educate consumers and support local lawenforcement. Its illegal to be driving while texting so theres distracted drivers in the carpet their distracted drugs on the road. Some jurisdictions and use have put restrictions on the use of phones pedestrians are in the road. Again, other than education have you done anything . Yes. His education, research on the psychology of the Human Factors and what policies work to address the problem. They are adopted in the permit with nhtsa support at the local level to our Grant Programs. Are we doing anything like partnering with Insurance Companies or high schools within fact that . We are talking to Insurance Companies. With high schools yes, there are various organizations that use the community of gender people to drive better decisionmaking weatherby on distracted driving or on Impaired Driving. We just are not increasing our support because of the importance are used youth driving their decision. Is a sidebar Comment Period drunkendriving is a huge problem in this country. Text driving may even be above it to be honest with you because you got people who have hands on the wheel, eyes off the road. Its insanity. Weve got to figure out how to do a better job of educating folks this is not tolerated. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, senator tester. Senator blackburn. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And if what you think each of you for being here. And look forward to the work were going to do with the fast act. Ms. King, i want to come to you first. Talk a little bit about Autonomous Vehicles. When i was over in the house we had passed the legislation to put in place some parameters we look forward to the senate. I know senator thune and senator peters have filed legislation that would deal the avs. And we know this technology is coming. We know that some of the Pilot Projects are going to be taking place, but Congress Needs to act and build that framework at. I think its also an important step for us to take, because when it comes to the avs and uvs, we want to set the standards for this. We do not want china setting the standards for this. If we dont take that action, we know who will take that action. So if you will just speak for a minute about nixons involvement where you are, why its important for your to engage from the manufacturing process through wealthy design process, manufacturing process and the rules of the road, if youll give me one minute on that. Absolutely and im watching my clock. At the to everything starts with research. We feel very strongly that steak he relies on in engineering and we have quite a number of Research Projects not all of the technologies themselves, how to work and maybe where they still need to improve, but also on how humans interact with this technology. Its important to make sure that human drives on opera to engage when you need to be and systems are safe if a driver is able to disengage. One of the challenges is really theres some advanced technologies that i call nancy Cruise Control that are on our roads now. They support a driver but the human must still be actively engaged. There is no selfdriving car for sale and the United States today. But those systems, the highly Automated Vehicles are under development. Relearning together and anticipation of that we are nhtsa evaluating and taking comment and assessing our current migratory regime to make sure we are prepared to safely your Pilot Project and look at some Pilot Projects. Thats right. Weve received comments on it Pilot Project that could allow for sharing of information and unity engagement with the testing and highly Automated Vehicles. In our common to rapidly find the some confusion of what the purpose of the Pilot Project is so we are reviewing those now and will again go back to the public for engagement before we take next steps. Wonderful. I know senator fischer mentioned the hours of service, and this is very important. Mr. Martinez, let me come to you on this. Im fully aware that farm bureau and other entities have weighed in with you all tennessee is a big agriculture state. Tennessee and kentucky produce more beef than anyone else east of the mississippi, and what we are hopeful of is that you all arrive at something thats going to be supported by the ag community, with a workable and just common sense for them and allow some flexibility. Understood syndicator weve been fully engaged with the industry representative in washington and also with our colleagues over at the department of agriculture to make sure we are sensitive to the specific needs of those in agriculture community, community but specific to the livestock community. We are engaged in that. Thank you. I appreciate that. Before i i let you go and my te runs out, the cdl issue, looking at those that are under 21 being able to drive across state lines. And i appreciate your comments, to mr. Scott, but theres something i think that again common sense needs to be engaged in Pilot Projects that you all are moving forward with, look for to hearing about some results on the issue. Thank you. We will as soon as we can get the result out but also those in the National Guard and reserves we will step away from this discussion to go to remarks from President Trump recorded just before he left for kentucky just a short time ago. This is a product that is made right now that just came out i Johnson Johnson which has a tremendously positive, preshortterm but nevertheless, a positive effect. Ive instructed the head of the v. A. To go out and buy a lot of it, and we are buying a lot of it are culturally, were getting it at a very good cost