Congress has approved a two-month extension of legislation authorizing the Highway Trust Fund to continue supporting highway and transit projects across the country. The short-term patch ensures current funding will continue. However, with no long-term solution in sight, investment in new projects has already slowed, impacting communities across the country.
"We are disappointed and frustrated," says Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. "This two-month extension is a reflection of the inability of Congress to fund a long-term surface transportation bill, which has caused uncertainty among our members. State DOTs are already postponing construction projects this year because they can't count on federal funds to be there. Millions of dollars that should be flowing into communities, creating jobs and paying for projects to improve safety and mobility, aren't being funded. Congress must find the political will to pass a long-term bill and put these short-term patches aside."
Follow these links to learn more:
AASHTO/APTA 2015 Bottom Line Report: http://bottomline.transportation.org/
AASHTO Nation at A Crossroads: http://invest.transportation.org
AASHTO Matrix of Revenue Generating Options: http://downloads.transportation.org/TranspoRevenueMatrix2014.pdf
