Overcoming their differences, Republican leaders in both chambers agreed Wednesday to a three-month patch bill to continue transportation spending through Oct. 29. The bill must pass by Friday due to lack of funds in the Highway Trust Fund.
"Republican leaders in Congress agreed Tuesday on a temporary fix for keeping the federal highway program funded for three months beyond its expiration Friday, postponing until the fall a bigger struggle over how to pay for infrastructure in the longer term," reported Siobhan Hughes and Kristina Peterson for The Wall Street Journal at 5:47 p.m.
Support from both House and Senate leaders for the three-month patch signaled a brief détente in the weekslong impasse over how to shore up the Highway Trust Fund. Highway programs expire this Friday and are running out of money, so both chambers are expected to pass the three-month bill this week.
The House passed Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) five-month, $8.1 billion patch bill, H.R. 3038 on July 15, but the Senate opted for a different path, pursuing the six-year DRIVE Act by securing funding for the three years. On Sunday, the Senate debated two unrelated amendments, the Export-Import Bank and the Affordable Care Act. The former passed with bipartisan approval.
The three-month bill will not include an amendment extending the Export-Import Bank which has turned into a controversial side issue of passing a highway bill.
A Washington Post PowerPost stated that the short term bill "highlights the continuing inability of Congress to agree on a long-term plan for covering the cost of budget shortfalls in a program that provides the funding for bridge and road projects across the country."
FULL STORY: Republicans Set Interim Fix on Highway Funding
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service