Design firms, contractors and states, slogging through a 19-month delay, so far, in passing a new transportation bill, see the next milestone up ahead. The Senate could approve a multi-year measure in the week of May 9, when it returns from a one-week break. "It may take all week but I think they will," says Jack Basso, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials director of management and business development.
All parties are awaiting an expected floor amendment from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and the panels top Democrat, Max Baucus of Montana, to add funding to what now is a $284-billion bill.