Temporary extension of surface transportation law will enable next Congress to pursue transformational reauthorization in 2011
WASHINGTON, DC — In response to today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives extending current transportation law until October 1, 2011, Transportation for America Director James Corless issued the following statement:
We support the House of Representatives’ passage of a temporary extension of SAFETEA-LU, the nation’s surface transportation law slated to expire on December 31, and encourage the Senate to follow suit. Extending current law until October 1, 2011 would provide state and local transportation officials, contractors and workers the certainty they need to proceed on crucial infrastructure projects, while allowing the 112th Congress ample time to craft a long-term reauthorization bill. We were disappointed to see the House stifle the development of high-speed rail by cutting of $1.5 billion. We urge the Senate to restore that funding.
We urge the next Congress to keep its eye on the ball by pursuing a transformational law that prioritizes repair and rehabilitation of our existing infrastructure; concrete benchmarks and objectives for every federal dollar; and assurance that any new construction increases travel options for all Americans.
Tags: extension, high speed rail, law, safetea lu, surface transportation law, transformational
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