A huge challenge for the next Congress will be finding the funds to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent when the current patch expires on May 31.
Assuming Republicans aren't so focused on overturning President Barack Obama's environmental regulations when the new Congress meets next year, they will devote some time to filling the Highway Trust Fund shortfall, the difference between transportation spending and fuel tax receipts, estimated at about $18 billion annually and expected to widen due to fuel efficiency standards. The 10-month House Republican patch bill met the shortfall by using general fund savings gained by pension smoothing.
Ashley Halsey III, who reports on national and local transportation for The Washington Post, writes that the new Congress will have only five months to locate "(a)n estimated $6.5 billion (to) keep highway projects afloat and construction workers employed until the 2015 fiscal year ends Sept. 30. But it would take about $100 billion in additional revenue to fund a six-year transportation bill that virtually everyone considers ideal."
The most viable way to raise a big chunk of transportation money this year would be to increase the tax on gas and diesel fuel. Bumping up diesel by 15 cents a gallon and gas by 10 cents would raise an estimated $120 billion to fund a six-year bill.
A similarly challenged option: putting a percentage tax on the sale of gas and diesel. That would haul in $218 billion over six years.
While House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) recently called a highway bill "in the realm of doable, and Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, expressed optimism on funding a long term reauthorization, "privately most acknowledged that until there is consensus on finding more money, transportation may be doomed to limp along in perpetual crisis," writes Halsey.
A longtime observer of the process predicted that the most likely outcome when the May deadline rolls around is another extension with a patchwork of additional funding sources, something less than the six-year bill state officials say is vital if they are to make decisions about multi-year projects.
[Hat tip to Jackie at Climate Plan]
FULL STORY: Can a new Congress bail out transportation in five months?

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

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.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont