Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, released a statement today regarding the short-term extension of the FAST Act through Dec. 3 in lieu of passage of a new long-term surface transportation reauthorization contained in the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
“For the second time in a month, Congress has passed a short-term extension of surface transportation programs, leaving state departments of transportation in limbo once again,” Tymon said. “We implore the House to pass—well before Dec. 3—the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a historic bipartisan bill passed by the Senate almost three months ago. It includes substantial funding increases for all modes of transportation and allows for five years of funding stability for highway, transit, and passenger rail programs—something state DOTs desperately need to deliver a safe, efficient, and multimodal transportation system.
“AASHTO members need certainty to plan transportation projects to meet the needs of their communities and keep our economy moving, and the impact of these short-term extensions is not insignificant. Congress must pass the IIJA immediately to lessen the harmful impacts that come from the lack of a long-term surface transportation bill.”
Earlier this month, AASHTO released the results of a survey highlighting the impact of short-term extensions on state departments of transportation. More than 35 AASHTO members detailed the negative effects short-term extensions have in their home states.
