Connecticut may be one of the few states that won't have to enter panic mode if a sharp drop in transportation funds occurs if Congress does not pass a long-term solution to transportation funding.
Connecticut Department of Transportation spokesman Judd Everhart said, "We have all funding in place for current projects for at least the next six months."
The state has taken the conservative approach to funding transportation projects and now may be in a better position to weather the storm if Congress does not reauthorize federal transportation spending by May 31.
The Connecticut Construction Industries Association has criticized the state's modest spending methods, but this approach may pay off given the precarious situation in Congress.
However, like most states, Connecticut still relies heavily on the federal government to fund state highway and transportation projects and would benefit from additional federal funding.
"We are counting on having common sense prevail in Congress and getting a funding bill passed — preferably a long-term bill," Everhart said.
A long-term solution to transportation funding is the general bipartisan consensus, but inaction on finalizing a long-term bill has left many states resorting to short term fixes such as raising the state gas tax to keep their heads above water.
The White House is also putting pressure on Congress not to leave town for the upcoming week-long Memorial Day break without addressing the transportation crisis.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz charged that it would be a "dereliction of responsibility" for lawmakers to return to their districts without approving the legislation."
