Update: Congress formally approves 6-month extension
Source: AASHTO Journal, Sept. 16, 2011
The United States Senate put its formal stamp of approval on extending the federal highway program for another six months. PHIA reported earlier this week that Congressional leaders were close to making a deal to delay the reauthorization of the nation’s highway program until March 2012 rather than address the issue this fall.
That deal came to fruition late last night when the Senate voted 92-6 to send President Barack Obama a measure extending authorization at current funding levels for federal highway and transit programs until March 31. Also part of the bill was an extension for federal aviation programs until Jan. 31. The House of Representatives passed the bill by voice vote earlier in the week without any debate. Read more
Chaos in Washington: Another federal extension looming
While many had hoped that Congress would enact a long-term federal transportation bill, it appears that the decision will be to kick the can down the road for yet another six months.
According to several news reports, the U.S. House and Senate this week are expected to act on legislation brokered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to extend the federal surface transportation programs for six months. The House is scheduled to consider the measure as early as today.
The legislation would extend current levels of funding for Pennsylvania through the end of March 2012. Most importantly, the deal is expected to extend the federal gas tax for the same six-month period. Read more
New federal trust fund forecast shows little change
Source: ARTBA
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released its summer forecast for the federal Highway Trust Fund showing little improvement in Highway Account revenues for the next surface transportation bill—$204.2 billion for FY 2012-17 compared to $201.6 billion in March. Projected Transit Account revenues for the six-year period were revised down $0.7 billion to $30.2 billion. The Highway Account projections include an increase in revenues from the expected growth in the sale of heavy truck equipment which is nearly offset by a decline in motor fuel tax revenues—a result of CBO’s projection of lower economic growth. Both accounts draw revenues from motor fuel sales, but the Mass Transit Account does not benefit from truck tax revenues resulting in the projected decline.
The forecast does not significantly change the outlook for the Highway Trust Fund balances, with the Highway Account balance still projected to hit zero in late 2012 or early 2013, followed by the Mass Transit Account later in 2013.
POSTPONED: U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Comes to PA
PHIA Vice President Thomas Lawson was invited by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to be a part of a special committee “listening session” to discuss the deep transportation funding problem in Pennsylvania. The committee is coming to Pennsylvania in conjunction with PA congressmen Patrick Meehan, Bill Shuster, Jim Gerlach, and Lou Barletta.
The meetings have been postponed due to pending votes by Congress in Washington. PHIA will provide new details when they become available.
Read more
Fully funding transportation is crucial to reducing national deficit
The Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) released the following statement in reaction to today’s recommendation of the National Commission on Fiscal Reform and Responsibility to fully fund the federal Transportation Trust Fund instead of relying on deficit spending. The commission also recommended dedicating a 15-cent per gallon increase in the federal gas tax to transportation funding, and limiting spending if necessary to match the revenues the trust fund collects each year. To view a copy of the full release, click here.
Overcoming our infrastructure deficit
Below is an article that appeared in the June 28th edition of Politico.
By: Rep. James Oberstar
June 28, 2010 04:11 AM EDT
The U.S. surface transportation system was once the envy of the world. In recent decades, however, our roads, bridges, trains and transit have slipped into decline while other nations have made robust investments. Read more
