Based on current spending and revenue trends, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund will encounter a shortfall before the end of fiscal year (FY) 2014.
U.S. DOT's Highway Trust Fund Ticker, updated January 15, actually projects the Highway Account will have a zero balance shortly after the first week of August. The Mass Transit Account is expected to make it to the September 1 start of the next federal fiscal year with a $440 million balance.
The Highway Account began FY 2014 (September 1, 2013) with approximately $1.6 billion in cash. A $9.7 billion transfer from the General Fund to the Highway Account was processed shortly after the start of the fiscal year ($10.4 billion authorized in MAP-21, reduced by sequestration).
The surface transportation program continues to outlay at a greater pace than receipts come in, and the account's cash balance has dropped by nearly $3.4 billion.
The Mass Transit Account began FY 2014 with approximately $2.5 billion in cash. A $2 billion transfer from the General Fund to the Mass Transit Account was processed shortly after the start of the fiscal year ($2.2 billion authorized in MAP-21, reduced by sequestration).
