With no agreement in sight on a multi-year transportation bill, Congress was on the verge of approving a measure that would continue the highway and transit programs for eight months. The House passed the legislation on Sept. 30 by a 409-8 vote and the Senate was expected to approve it later that day.
Transportation programs have been operating under a series of five short extensions since Sept. 30, 2003, when the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century expired. The new legislation would carry the programs through May 31. It provides $24.5 billion over that period for surface transportation programs, which is eight-twelfths of the 2005 amount provided under the six-year transport bill the House approved in April.