Key senators support 18-month transportation extension

SAFETEA-LU expires Sept. 30

Steve Hawley, Jun 26, 09.

The top two senators on the Environment and Public Works Committee support Ray LaHood’s call for an 18-month transportation extension, according to Streetsblog New York, putting them at odds with many House members who want a new comprehensive bill this year.

Chairwoman Barbara Boxer of California and Ranking Minority Member Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma also argued that the extension should not significantly alter the existing law—SAFETEA-LU—which expires on September 30, because any reforms could slow its passage. Compounding the problem, the US Department of Transportation expects the Highway Trust Fund to run out of money by late August. Streetsblog recently examined what it perceives to be the many flaws of SAFETEA-LU.

Only one senator—George Voinovich of Ohio—expressed support for raising the gas tax to finance transportation projects. Gas tax revenues have been steadily declining as cars become more fuel-efficient and as people have driven less in recent years. The gas tax has not increased since 1993.

Although the Obama administration wants the extension to include several reforms, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California said that the extension should be “clean as a whistle” and without any policy changes in order to speed passage.