Transportation Appropriations Bill Clears House Subcommittee

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation today marked-up the FY 2011 transportation spending bill.  The bill provides $45.2 billion for the highway program, an increase of more than $4 billion over this year's funding level of $41.07 billion and  President Obama's budget request of $42.36 Billion. The bill also would provide $11.3 billion for transit program funding, a $500 million increase over the President's budget request.  The bill also provides $3.5 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, the same amount as appropriated in previous years and $1.4 billion for high-speed passenger rail, a $400 million dollar increase from the President's budget request but a $1.1 billion decrease from FY 2010.  In addition, the bill provides $400 million for TIGER Grant programs while failing to provide the $4 billion requested by the President for a National Infrastructure Innovation and Finance Fund.  At this time it is unclear if or when the full committee will consider the transportation spending bill.  If they fail to act prior to the end of FY 2010 the transportation programs will continue to operate at current funding levels. Congress must also act to provide the necessary authorization as the current short term extension expires on December 31, 2010 the end of the first quarter of FY 2011. In addition, more revenue will be needed in the Highway Trust Fund as the current revenue will only support funding through mid 2011.