President may give go-ahead for new transportation bill

T4: LaHood says 2011

Jon Boyd, Sep 27, 10.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood indicated that he is authorized to push for a new six-year transportation bill in 2011, according to Transportation for America:

In a meeting with advocates this week, Secretary LaHood said that they have the go-ahead from the White House to move a six year bill in 2011, with a full proposal accompanying the President’s budget request for FY12 in February, according to USDOT sources.

The question remains as to whether or not that will be a full bill, or merely the administration’s principles for a bill, but in either case, this is at least a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for our long wait for a transformational transportation bill. Which, we remind you, expired one year ago in just a few days.

The transportation law known as Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, or SAFETEA-LU, expired at the close of September in 2009. Congress has continued federal transportation funding through six-month extensions and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced a bill in July 2009, but the Obama Administration has demurred from making a new six-year transportation bill a priority, according to Transportation for America. With midterm elections approaching, and followed by a lameduck Congress, Transportation for America does not anticipate that a bill can move in 2010.

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