As reported in Transportation Weekly, Senate leaders are delaying plans to take up a six-month extension of the surface transportation act. It doesn't appear such legislation will be taken up any time soon.

It had been expected that leadership in the Senate would attempt to move the bill, but published reports indicate those plans are no longer imminent.

"We are disappointed that the Senate was unable to move the extension forward," said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. "We will continue to work with the House and Senate leadership on passage of authorization as soon as that proves possible. In the meantime, we will work to assure that there is no interruption in the program when the current Continuing Resolution expires.

Currently, the federal highway program is being funded by a CR approved by the House and Senate, and signed by the President to keep the government running at current budget levels through December 18. Supporting and creating jobs is a huge selling point of this bill.

In late September, by a vote of 335 to 85, the House agreed to support a three-month extension of authorization for the highway and transit programs. The Senate, however, failed to approve the measure.

– Courtesy of AASHTO