In addition, some long-time transportation infrastructure investment supporters, such as Representatives Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.), Jon Porter (R-Nev.), Nick Lampson (D-Texas), and Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), did not win their bids for re-election.

Key Congressional Committees
With the 2008 elections completed, the first order of business for members of the House and the Senate will be electing party leaders. Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) are expected to retain the Speaker of the House of Representatives and majority leader positions respectively for the Democrats. The House Republicans may have more of a reshuffling in their leadership ranks. Current House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has signaled he would like to keep his job in the next congressional session. There are reports of potential Republican leadership challenges, but it is not clear this would extend to Boehner and one member of the House GOP leadership, Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), has already indicated he will not be seeking to reclaim this post in 2009.

Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will likely maintain the chamber's majority leader spot. Likewise, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is expected to retain the number two spot for Senate Democrats as the majority whip. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is expected to keep his spot as the chamber's top Senate Republican and Senator John Kyl (R-Ariz.) will likely maintain his spot as the second ranking Senate Republican, the minority whip.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I)
With Democrats retaining control of the House, a major committee leadership restructuring is not expected. As President-Elect Obama, however, begins to fill his cabinet, some key members of Congress could be asked to serve and this could lead to potential committee leadership changes. Representative Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) will remain chairman of the T&I Committee. John Mica (R-Fla.) is expected to keep his spot as the top ranking Republican on the committee.

As for subcommittees, the following members currently have leadership responsibilities and are returning to Congress: Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Highways, Transit Subcommittee; Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), Aviation Subcommittee; Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), Railroads Subcommittee; and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee. The current Republican T&I subcommittee leaders that are returning to Capitol Hill are: John Duncan (R-Tenn.), Highways & Transit Subcommittee; Tom Petri (R-Wis.), Aviation Subcommittee; Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee; and John Boozman (R-Ark.), Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee.