Senate Passes FY 2010 Transportation Appropriations Bill

This afternoon the Senate passed their FY 2010 Department of Transportation Appropriations legislation by a vote of 73-25.  The $67.7 billion bill funds the Department of Housing and Urban Development and provides $42.5 billion for the federal-aid highway program, an increase of over $1.5 billion from the FY 2009 level, and includes $11.1 billion for transit investments, $480 million above the President's request. The bill also provides $3.5 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, the same amount appropriated for the past two years. The House bill, which was passed in July, provides slightly less funding for highways, transit and high-speed rail improvements. House and Senate negotiators will now begin to conference their respective bills to address the differences in funding levels.