TDM Policy Victory; FAA Reauthorization Touches Down Safely on President Biden’s Desk

FAA Reauthorization Touches Down Safely on President Biden's Desk

On May 16, President Biden signed into law the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. Included in the reauthorization is Section 736 from Congresswoman Strickland, a TDM provision advocated for and championed by ACT, which requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the efficacy of Transportation Demand Management strategies at United States airports. Apart from the tens of millions of passengers who travel through airports each year, an economic impact study conducted in 2013 for Airports Council International – North America found U.S. airports support 9.6 million jobs, with about 1.2 million people working at 485 commercial airports in the United States employed by airlines, rental car companies, government agencies, outside vendors, and the airport itself amongst a host of other entities whose businesses rely on airports. 

“Ensuring that airport employees, contractors, and passengers have accessible, efficient, and sustainable methods of transportation to get them to and from the airport is critical and can be achieved through comprehensive use of TDM strategies,” said David Straus, Executive Director of ACT. “A huge thank you to the Congresswoman, her team, and the ACT members involved for making this a reality.” 

Hear from airports and stakeholders about the significance of this provision:

"Alta Planning + Design is honored to have spearheaded the development and management of TDM programs on behalf of some of the nation's largest airports," said Joddie Gray, Vice President/TDM Practice Lead of Alta Planning + Design. "With significant investments from local stakeholders, our initiatives prioritize optimizing commute options for airport employees and neighboring communities, fostering efficiency and sustainability in transportation operations. The FAA TDM Provision reaffirms our collective commitments and investments, promising regulatory support and vital resources to enhance ongoing transportation efficiency and sustainability at airports across the country."

"Denver International Airport (DEN) is in support of the recent FAA Reauthorization TDM provision Section 736, which allows for further study of Transportation Demand Management strategies at airports," said Lisa Nguyen, Principal Airport Transportation Planner of Denver International Airport. "With an overall goal of incentivizing sustainable transportation to our passengers and employees, DEN’s TDM Plan will be implemented in the next several years."

What is the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024?

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 authorizes over $105 billion in appropriations for the FAA and $738 million in appropriations for the National Transportation Safety Board through the end of the 2028 fiscal year. The FAA money authorized will be divided up amongst the FAA’s four primary accounts.

• $66.7 billion for Operations and Maintenance (O&M), the account mainly responsible for financing air traffic operations and aviation safety programs.
• $17.8 billion for the Facilities and Equipment account (F&E), which is responsible for the current infrastructure and the advancement of NextGen Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems.
• $19.35 billion for the Grants-in-Aid for Airports account, which funds the development of a nationwide system of public-use airports to match current demand and anticipated growth of civil aviation, and
• $1.59 billion for the Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) account, which funds research and services to ensure a safe, efficient, and environmentally compatible air transportation system.
• In addition, the bill seeks to provide relief for the air traffic controller shortages currently faced by airports across the country as well as codify clear refund rights, increase cockpit voice recording, improve runway safety, and require fee-free family seating. 

Next steps 

Securing a GAO study to understand the importance of investing in and implementing TDM at airports is a great step in expanding the awareness and understanding of the role TDM can play in ensuring quality transportation options in communities around the country. Progress cannot be made without concrete action steps to follow.

In the coming weeks and months, ACT plans to meet with GAO officials as well as our airport and airport stakeholder members to ensure the study asks the right questions, spotlights successes, highlights areas of improvement, and provides actionable information that can be executed on. All progress is incremental by nature, and this study will provide us with a base from which we can develop legislative and advocacy strategies for the benefit of all who commute to airports regularly.