On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved H.R. 3763, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRRA).  The bill is similar to the Senate-passed bill, as it authorizes federal highway, bridge, and transit programs for six years, but only provides enough funding for three years.  

Funding is continued at current levels, with slight increases each year for inflation.  Of interest to RCRC Counties, the bill protects funding for off-system bridges, and provides additional funding for locally-owned bridges on the federal highway system.  It also takes steps that will enable states to devote more money to address rural road fatalities.  Given the changes in House leadership, it is unclear when the bill will be considered by the full House of Representatives.  The current authority expires on October 29, 2015, so another extension is expected.