Federal transportation reauthorization deadline extended by two months--and then what?

The League of American Bicyclists is reporting that the US House has voted to extend the federal transportation bill by two more months, until July.  The Senate is likely to follow suit.  The League wrote:

Lobbying Missouri's members of Congress at the National Bike Summit

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a two month extension to the federal transportation bill, MAP-21, yesterday, with a vote of 387 to 35.

You can read more about the debate over federal transportation funding here. The most interesting part of yesterday's debate was the number of members of Congress saying they'd had enough: This is the last time they will vote for an extension. Though key Democrats, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Democrat on the Transportation Committee, left some wiggle room for their votes, this could be a threat enough members stand behind.  

On Monday, Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) made clear that there would be another extension at the end of July, so this is a line in the sand that will have to be crossed in a couple months. The question is what will leadership have to give to get enough votes in July.

Working to continue and improve the funding and policy for bicycling and walking in the transportation bill reathorization was the focus of our meetings with the Missouri Congressional delegation at the National Bike Summit in Washington in March 2015.

We were pleased to find strong support for continuing the existing bike/ped funding in the reauthorization among most of the delegation--and even some support for increasing funding slightly--back to SAFETEA-LU levels--if Congress can solve the overall transportation funding issue.

Particularly important was the support of Missouri Congressman Sam Graves.  Graves is chair of a key transportation subcommittee and one of four House members most closely involved in the discussions and negotiations over the MAP-21 reauthorization.

Stay tuned as the federal transportation reauthorization moves through Congress over the next several months.  MoBikeFed is working with our allied organizations from across Missouri on a sign-on letter showing our unified support for continuing (and increasing) bike/ped funding in the forthcoming transportation bill.

Supporting the creating of a world-class bicycle and pedestrian transportation network throughout Missouri is one of the key focus areas in MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri.  Federal funding for biking and walking and good federal policy to support safe, accessible bicycling and walking is a big part of that.

Your ongoing membership and general financial support helps turn our Vision into reality!