Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
2009 Transportation Bill

House Voting Today on Transport Law Extension — Or Not?

(ed. note: This post has been updated to reflect late-breaking news as of Wednesday afternoon.)

House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar's (D-MN) plan for a three-month extension of the 2005 federal infrastructure law, appears on track for a vote this afternoon, despite reports that GOP opposition unexpectedly derailed consideration of the bill.

0131mnfederal_dd_graphic_oberstar.jpgHouse transport committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) (Photo: Capitol Chatter)

A full copy of the bill is available here. But the bigger question of what happens next, with just three legislative days left until the nation's transportation law expires, remains unanswered.

Reports emerged this afternoon to suggest that the three-month extension had been pulled from from the House's "suspensions calendar," used to pass non-controversial
bills that can obtain a two-thirds majority of the chamber.

"The Republican leadership is, for whatever reason, opposing our bill," Oberstar spokesman Jim Berard said in an interview. "I don't understand why -- it's a clean extension, no diff from the 12 extensions we did when we were working on SAFETEA-LU [the existing federal transportation bill] five years ago when Republicans were in charge."

But a GOP source told Streetsblog Capitol Hill that the three-month extension would be taken up on the suspensions calendar later today, generating even more uncertainty over the bill's ultimate fate. Meanwhile, two new wrinkles in the story are emerging this morning.

First, the subscription-only BNA newsletter reports that Oberstar's three-month proposal does not include language preventing the cancellation of $8.7 billion in highway contract authority, which is set to take effect next week unless Congress acts. The road lobby is growing increasingly concerned that it could lose out on the money, which Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) promised to restore during floor debate over her proposed 18-month extension of transportation law.

Second, some doubt is beginning to emerge over whether Boxer's 18-month plan will pass this month. The Senate's No. 2 Democrat, Dick Durbin (D-IL), said yesterday that his colleagues are mulling over whether to pass a short-term or long-term extension of the 2005 transport law.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) also told Streetsblog Capitol Hill today that he has "been hearing that there may be just a three-month bill" agreed upon by both chambers of Congress.

With the House also sending the Senate a three-month extension of the law governing federal aviation programs, the upper chamber could decide to bundle the transportation and aviation measures together. Still, a short-term extension is unlikely to sit well with the Obama administration, which continues to seek an 18-month delay.

Streetsblog Capitol Hill has requested comment from Boxer's office on how she plans to proceed following the House's vote today. We'll update you as more becomes available.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Promises, Promises: What the Candidates Said At The Transit Forum

Yes, the 2025 mayoral race is in full swing — which also means the candidate forum season is here, too.

December 3, 2024

River to River! DOT Will Close Dyckman Protected Bike Lane Gap

The four-block stretch will close a gap between the East and West sides of uptown Manhattan. But the agency may give in to a handful of drivers who are demanding their free parking over daylighting.

December 3, 2024

Giving Tuesday: The 2024 Sustainable Transportation Book Guide!

The previous 11-plus months have been epic for urbanism-related books. Why not buy a few for the advocates on your holiday list?

December 3, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines: Death on the Roads Edition

The wheels of government grind slowly. Much slower than the wheels of car drivers, which grind very aggressively. Plus other news.

December 3, 2024
See all posts