Citation

Barkin R. Am. City Cty. 2008; 123(11): 34-38.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Penton Media)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article discusses several obstacles standing in the way of passage by the U.S. Congress of the 2009 Highway Bill Reauthorization. At issue is the effort by Congress and the new administration to set the nation's transportation policy for the rest of the decade, and possibly for decades to come. The bill's outcome is critically important for state and local governments that depend on federal assistance to maintain and improve their transportation systems. The bill must balance the need to maintain and improve mass transportation against growing deficiencies and concerns about the nation's highways and bridges, as well as the issue of rural road safety. At present, transportation leaders are hopeful but realistic about the prospects for completing the legislation in time. Failing to finish the bill would unfortunately only lead to more extensions and stopgap measures.