The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), along with 87 other organizations, is calling on Congress to extend the current surface transportation funding legislation for one-year while adding nearly $70 billion in emergency funding for state departments of transportation and public transit agencies.
In a letter, AASHTO executive director Jim Tymon said the funding was critical to ensuring state departments of transportation could continue work on critical infrastructure elements throughout 2021.
“Public agencies continue to face COVID-19 pandemic-induced revenue declines. As a result, state and local entities already delayed or cancelled $8 billion in surface transportation projects, with more on the horizon absent any clear sign of support from the federal government. Failure to approve a one-year extension with increased funding for the purpose of stability would only exacerbate this dire situation,” Tymon wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (D-KY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). “Passing legislation that includes the aforementioned priorities would enable critical improvements that increase the safety and efficiency of the surface transportation system. This timely action by Congress would tangibly enhance the quality of life for all Americans and jumpstart America’s economic recovery.”
The letter asks Congress to authorize a turn-key, one-year extension of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act legislation that funds infrastructure investment and expires on Sept. 31. Additionally, the letter asks Congress to allocate $37 billion in emergency funding for state DOTs and $32 billion for public transit agencies and to pass provisions that would ensure the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund at least throughout the extension period.