In less than 100 days, authorization for the federal highway and transit program will end and Congress has even less time to take action.
“The Senate and House are only scheduled to be in session 55 and 36 days, respectively, before that legislative deadline occurs. Where is the sense of urgency?” American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) President & CEO Pete Ruane said in a statement last week.
The urgency to pass the program is part of a larger concern of federal funding for transportation infrastructure at both state and county levels.
Legislative actions such as passing the Highway Trust Fund would help create a sustainable federal funding package for the U.S.
According to Ruane, “investing in the transportation infrastructure that facilitates freight movement and personal mobility is a basic responsibility of government. It’s time for Congress and the President to show they can govern by providing a permanent revenue solution for the Highway Trust Fund and then pivoting to enactment of a well-funded, multi-year program reauthorization.
“The uncertainty caused by congressional action is already—again—having real world, negative economic consequences as states begin cutting back work plans because they don’t know if the funding will be there to pay the bills several months from now.”
