In Surprise, New Trust Fund Forecast Shows Smaller Deficit
Despite a continued decline in highway travel, a new Bush administration forecast of the Highway Trust Fund's financial health surprisingly projects a slightly lower 2009 deficit, compared with an estimate issued early this year.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said that the updated forecast, issued July 28, shows that the trust fund's highway-account deficit will be about $3.1 billion in fiscal 2009, compared with a $3.2-billion shortfall forecast as part of President Bush's 2009 budget, proposed in February.