Highway Trust Fund Ticker Updates Path Toward Insolvency

For those who haven't been following the Trust Fund's ticker, it's a bit like the deficit clock except that it runs in the opposite direction, going towards zero or insolvency. The ticker measures the balance in both the highway and transit accounts.

2 minute read

June 19, 2014, 7:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"Today (June 17), as we've been doing each month since January, the Department of Transportation (DOT) updated our Highway Trust Fund tickers. The tickers are charts showing how much money we have left to spend on roads, bridges, and transit --and how quickly it is running out," writes Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx in the Fast Lane.

Below is the graph depicting end-of-month balances for the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund. Note that it dips into negative numbers at the end of August, a full month before the transportation spending bill, MAP-21, expires on September 30.

Chart depicting end-of-month balances for the Highway Account

As we noted last month, "DOT prefers to keep a minimum of $4 billion in the highway account in order to properly manage day-to-day financial transactions." The highway account balance drops to that balance in late July, at which point state transportation departments may not receive timely reimbursements for work already done, explaining why some states are acting preemptively.

The mass transit account ticker shows a balance of $1 billion on September 30.

The impending insolvency leaves the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) with the dual task of finding short term funds to keep reimbursements flowing to state DOTs through the end of the fiscal year at a minimum, and six years worth of revenue to fund the Map-21 Reauthorization Act that passed the Environment and Public Works Committee on May 15. 

Notice of the ticker update was included in Adam Snider's Politico Morning Transportation of June 18.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 in Fast Lane (DOT blog)

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Adult holding hands of two children, all wearing winter coats, in crosswalk in New York City during holidays with trees decorated with lights in background.

Pedestrian Deaths Drop, Remain Twice as High as in 2009

Fatalities declined by 4 percent in 2024, but the U.S. is still nowhere close to ‘Vision Zero.’

30 minutes ago - Streetsblog USA

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine