As the lame-duck congressional session continues, a further extension for federal highway and transit programs looks more and more likely. The current short-term surface-transportation authorization expires on Dec. 31. Signals have emerged that another stopgap is in the cards.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told reporters after a Nov. 17 hearing that she is working on a highway-bill extension that would run through the middle of 2011. Boxer’s panel has jurisdiction over highways; other Senate committees oversee transit and highway safety.