July 30, 2015 6:12 PM

Congress remains hamstrung while Texas moves forward on long-term funding source for transportation

US Senate's 3-month extension delays real discussion until this fall

The U.S. Senate approved a short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund Thursday afternon, effectively delaying future debate on funding sources until October.

This would be the 34^th extension of the legislation to underwrite transportation funding since 2009. Earlier this month, the Senate was able to pass its own $47 billion three-year fix of the funding pool, the DRIVE Act, with an approach the House neither supported nor reached. Instead, House leaders tapped U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, to lead an effort to create tax code changes that could provide a long-term funding source.

Back in Texas, lawmakers have put an initiative on the ballot this fall, Proposition 7, to create a predictable revenue stream for transportation projects. The message at the Texas Transportation Commission is “accountability,” and agency staff is geared to roll out its new governance plan, mandated by House Bill 20, in September to assure voters TxDOT is serious about accountability.

Any effort by the state would be only the start of funding the estimated $5 billion per year needed for new construction. Tryon Lewis, chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, estimated the bottom line on transportation at $100 billion.

By Kimberly Reeves