House, Senate agree to three-month extension of federal transport programs

The House and Senate on Thursday agreed to a three-month extension of current federal highway and transit programs, keeping funding alive until June 30 and approving the ninth short-term extension of the program since the most recent law expired in 2009.

The current extension was to expire March 31.

The extension became necessary after the full House failed to pass a multiyear bill reauthorizing federal transport programs. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had passed legislation calling for a five-year, $260 billion reauthorization. The bill has stalled on the House floor after many lawmakers deemed the measure too costly.

The Senate in mid-March passed legislation calling for $109 billion in spending over two years.