Patch to transportation bill buys Congress two more months

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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A bill to extend current surface transportation funding at MAP-21 levels through July was approved by the Senate on Friday, May 22, and now awaits President Obama's signature.

 

The two-month extension was approved by the House of Representative last week.

U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released a statement that read, “With the two-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund, Congress prevented many critical road, bridge and transit projects from coming to a grinding halt. But it’s time we end this costly uncertainty with the Highway Trust Fund. The only solution to fixing this problem is to enact a consensus-based, bipartisan, six-year surface transportation bill that will provide states and local communities the funding and the certainty they need to plan and construct multi-year projects to modernize our infrastructure. Our committee continues to make progress on a consensus, six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, with a goal to mark up the legislation on June 24.”

In a statement regarding the House’s passage of the extension, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Melaniphy said, “APTA strongly believes that Congress should expedite its efforts and find a solution that provides for long-term investment in our public transportation, road and rail network. It is crucial that Congress act with urgency to address the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

“Congress must get focused and use these two months to develop realistic and viable options for a long-term solution to funding the nation’s transportation system.”

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