This week’s coalition meeting featured an update from Dave Bauer, Senior VP for Government Relations at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, on where funding issues stand in Washington.

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee is considering a six-year funding bill with three years of guaranteed funding. Both houses have approved a three-week extension of the current funding measure to allow time to reconcile issues on the multi-year measure.

Bauer said he believes a majority of Congress favors spending more on transportation, and that opponents comprise a relatively small minority. However, there is no consensus on how to pay for the increase.

He said Pennsylvania is among 14 states that have approved their own funding measures for transportation, but that Congress remains skittish over the potential for voter backlash.

Transportation Issue Update