ROADS/BRIDGES: Obama signs short-term transportation bill

Oct. 30, 2015

New  deadline created for long-term highway funding bill

U.S. President Barack Obama signed a short-term transportation bill extending funding for highways and other surface transportation through Nov. 20, the White House said. The temporary measure will prevent a shutdown in infrastructure funding, while also extending a key rail safety deadline to the end of 2018.

Lawmakers have been struggling to come up with a long-term highway funding bill that is normally financed by 18.4-cents-per-gallon gas tax, which brings in $34 billion out of the $50 billion needed for transportation projects.

"Our country needs a consensus-based, bipartisan, long-term surface transportation bill that will provide states and local communities the funding and certainty to plan and construct multi-year projects to modernize our infrastructure," Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement after the Senate approved the temporary highway-funding patch. 

“I am disappointed yet another short-term extension was needed [Wednesday]," Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) said in a statement after the Senate vote on the temporary highway funding extension.

“Nebraskans want a long-term transportation bill that provides certainty, advances highway project construction, and enhances road safety," Fischer continued.

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.

Revolutionizing Concrete Protection - A Sustainable Solution for Lasting Durability

The concrete at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center is subject to several potential sources of damage including livestock biowaste, food/beverage waste, and freeze/thaw...

The Future of Concrete Preservation

PoreShield is a cost-effective, nontoxic alternative to traditional concrete sealers. It works differently, absorbing deep into the concrete pores to block damage from salt ions...