WASHINGTON – After years of staled efforts to address the nation’s aging highways and transportation infrastructure, Congress has finally passed a comprehensive 5-year transportation bill that includes more than $300 billion in funding.
The bill boosts highway and transit spending and assures states that federal help will be available for major projects. It doesn’t include as much money or last quite as long as many lawmakers and the Obama administration would have liked. Nor does it resolve how to pay for transportation programs in the long term.
The bill was approved 359 to 65 in the House, and 83 to 16 in the Senate and now goes to the White House for President Obama’s signature.
According to Congressman Tom Reed’s (R-Corning, NY 23) office, the bill includes specific funds for roads and bridges in rural areas, public transit systems, and new systems for the movement of commercial traffic via freight – which Reed says will ultimately make it easier for companies to move products to the market place and drive costs down for consumers.
The bill also reduces bureaucratic requirements for construction projects making it easier to get projects started at a lower cost. The bill also does not raise the federal gas tax.
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