By Jim Abrams
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, July 30, 1998; 12:55 a.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House passed a $46.9 billion transportation spending bill early Thursday that provides a big boost to highway spending, increases funding for aviation improvements and backs Amtrak in its recovery plan.

The House bill, however, does not include language banning smoking on international flights. The Senate in passing its $47.1 billion version of the bill last week included such language. The two chambers will meet to work out their differences in the bill, which covers spending for the 1999 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

The legislation was largely non-controversial and passed the House 391-25. But final action required a compromise over one dispute concerning an attempt by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., to prevent the allocation of $6 million for studying the relocation of the Miller Highway on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Nadler said the main purpose of the proposal was to allow New York developer Donald Trump to build luxury high-rise apartments with an unobstructed view and thus increase the value of the property. In a compromise, lawmakers agreed that the $6 million will remain available but no new money for the highway will be provided. The cost of relocating the highway has been estimated at $300 million.

``I do not believe that New Yorkers work hard and pay taxes so they can line Mr. Trump's pockets,'' Nadler said. ``That is why I have fought against this idea from the beginning.''

Coming in the wake of a $203 billion long-term highway and mass transit bill signed into law by President Clinton in June, the bill boosts highway spending next year by almost 20 percent to $25.5 billion.

Mass transit spending is also up more than $500 million to $5.4 billion, while the $9.5 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration includes $1.8 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, an increase of $100 million over 1998.

Spending for the Coast Guard is down $29 million to $3.9 billion.

The House budgets $600 million for Amtrak, allowing the national railroad to move forward with its financial recovery plan. The Senate provided $555 million, also less than the $620 million requested by President Clinton but enough to spare the money-losing national railroad from having to dip into a $2.2 billion fund created last year for long-term capital improvements.