The federal legislation that currently funnels federal aid for highway and bridge construction to the states is entitled “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” (or “MAP-21”). This legislation was passed as a two-year bill designed to authorize spending for FY 2013 and FY 2014. The legislation was due to expire October 31, 2014, but was extended last summer through May 31 of this year. The extension continued federal aid for highway, highway safety and public transportation programs at status quo funding levels.
Not only did Congress need to deal with the expiration of this authorizing legislation last year, it had to deal with a shortfall of funds in the Federal Highway Trust Fund, which provides the federal part of funding for highway and bridge projects. The Federal Highway Trust Fund is financed by the federal gasoline tax, which has funded highway and bridge construction since the 1930s. At 18.4 cents per gallon, the tax has not been increased since 1993.