Federal Re-authorization

SAFETEA-LU Extended 30 Days

The current program authorizing federal investment in surface transportation -- the "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" -- has been extended for one month after Congress failed to agree on a new bill by its Sept. 30, 2009, deadline.

House Transportation leaders have proposed the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 (STAA) -- a 6-year, $500 billion reauthorization proposal.

A reauthorization proposal has not yet been offered by the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee.

Identifying a source of additional transportation funding remains the key issue in the reauthorization debate. While the House proposal represents a signficant increase in investment over the $286 billion authorized by SAFETEA-LU, a revenue title has not yet been attached to the House proposal because a political consensus has not emerged on potential sources of new revenue.