WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAU) — The U.S. Senate passed a three month funding measure to continue highway aid payments, avoiding tonight’s potential funding cutoff. Some Senators are hoping to get beyond the short-term measures and do a better job of funding the nation’s infrastructure construction projects.
The short term bill to fund the Highway Trust Fund passed 91-4, but some including Senator Tammy Baldwin say it’s not good enough to simply ensure projects now in the pipeline get funding after midnight tonight. She wants to see a bipartisan Senate measure to extend federal transportation programs for six years. The six-year proposal also passed the Senate, but will have to wait for House of Representatives action until after the August recess.
Along with the ability to provide states and contractors confidence in federal support with a six year plan, Baldwin added some public safety amendments, including a requirement to give real-time information access to local emergency responders about hazmat trains entering their jurisdictions in order to better prepare.
The six-year funding bill would also require the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) keep bridge inspection reports readily available to state and local officials upon request, require railroads to maintain a plan for responding to a worst-case oil discharges, and would require the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to study levels of insurance for railroads carrying hazardous materials.
