House Approves Conference Report for FY 2010 Transportation Spending (AASHTO Journal)
After months of delay, the House of Representatives approved Thursday the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2010 transportation appropriations bill. The report would greatly increase spending for the U.S. Department of Transportation, kill a proposed national infrastructure bank, provide new funding for high-speed […]
Federal Highway & Transit Programs Due to Expire Next Week (AASHTO Journal)
Congress took no action this week to extend authorization of federal surface transportation programs, meaning only a week remains before highway and transit spending authority expires.
The last multiyear surface transportation authorization, a 2005 law known as “SAFETEA-LU,” expired Sept. 30. Congress has […]
Sec. LaHood: Gas tax likely to see debate in Congress soon (The Hill)
A federal gas tax hike is likely to appear on lawmakers’ radars again this year as they search for new ways to fund the country’s transportation programs, the department’s secretary suggested on Monday.
During a summit in Fort Worth, Texas, Transportation chief Ray LaHood […]
Contractors Pessimistic on 2010 Prospects Unless Long-Term Bill Enacted (AASHTO Journal)
A report issued late last week emphasized that many transportation contractors have laid off employees this year and a lot more job cuts are likely to take place in 2010 unless Congress enacts a robust authorization bill for highways, bridges, transit, and safety projects. […]
Boxer Asks for White House Help on Highway Extension Compromise (The New York Times)
With the ongoing congressional stalemate over the next highway bill beginning to take its toll on state road and transit projects, a key senator yesterday urged the Obama administration to step in and help broker a compromise.
Boxer’s comments came one day […]
Senate, House Face Off: Transportation Leaders Not on Same Page (The Bond Buyer)
WASHINGTON — Senate transportation leaders are in a standoff with their House counterparts over a six-month extension of the current transportation law, as states are experiencing a 30% reduction in their federal highway and bridge funding.
“We still don’t have the House side with […]
US Industry Groups Urge Multi-Year Highway-Spending Bill (NASDAQ.com)
NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- A consortium of asphalt and concrete industry groups are urging Congress to pass a new transportation bill soon because states won’t commit to highway construction without a long-term federal spending plan.
In a letter sent to federal lawmakers Wednesday, the consortium asked Congress to enact […]
Sens. Boxer, Inhofe make push for short-term transportation bill extension (The Hill)
Two senators at odds on climate legislation are joining forces to push for a short-term extension of the highway bill.
“One of the best ways to spur job creation and economic recovery is through infrastructure investment,” Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the […]
WV Congressman Vows To Keep the Federal Formula that Makes NC a Donor State
Extension of federal road dollars beat stimulus, Rahall insists (Register Herald)
A six-year extension of the federal highway account trumps any second stimulus package that is making the rumor mill on Capitol Hill these days, Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., maintained Tuesday during a […]
Senate Action to Extend SAFETEA-LU No Longer Imminent (AASHTO Journal)
As reported in Transportation Weekly, Senate leaders are delaying plans to take up a six-month extension of the surface transportation act and it doesn’t appear such legislation will be taken up any time soon.
It had been expected that leadership in the Senate would attempt to […]
