Date:  Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Contact: Lloyd Brown, WSDOT Communications 360-705-7076

OLYMPIA - Washington State highway projects will continue uninterrupted now that the U.S. Senate has passed a temporary 30-day extension of SAFETEA-LU, the federal transportation funding act. This one-month extension is the 4th month-by-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund authorization.

“We appreciate the hard work of Washington’s federal delegation to pass this temporary extension,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “The lack of an agreement on a longer extension is very concerning. It inhibits our ability to plan and deliver projects that enhance safety, improve community livability, and reduce congestion in our state.”

Tuesday night the Senate voted 78-19 to pass legislation that includes a 30-day extension of SAFETEA-LU. The bill has already passed the House, and the President is expected to sign the bill into law Wednesday today.

“We encourage Congress to pass the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act this week that extends the Highway Trust Fund through December 2010 and then work hard to enact a six-year reauthorization of the nation’s transportation investments before the end of the year.” Hammond said.

Washington State will submit approximately $13.5 million in federal reimbursements today, as expected.

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