Legislative Update: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Approves Bill Reauthorizing Federal Highway Programs for Two Years

On November 9, 2011, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved legislation (called Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21) reauthorizing federal highway programs for two years. The programs are currently authorized through an extension of legislation that expired on September 30, 2009. The extension will expire on March 31, 2012.

The MAP-21 legislation would consolidate federal highway programs, reducing the total number of programs from about 90 to fewer than 30. The overall funding level it provides for highway programs is equal to current funding, plus inflation, for two fiscal years. Under the legislation, the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) would be consolidated into the new Transportation Mobility Program and would continue to be funded from the federal Highway Trust Fund. ARC would continue to have authority to receive funding for the ADHS's administration.

The U.S. House of Representatives is also at work on a reauthorization of federal highway programs, although it hopes to produce a six-year bill. A date has not yet been set for committee action in the House.