Fast on the heels of debt ceiling negotiations, which have taken much of the time and efforts of Congress recently, there is some good news this week for those watching for signs of transportation and infrastructure support. In July, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee outlined their hopes for a two-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that would maintain current levels of funding, adjusting for inflation, and would provide $109 billion over those two years. When the proposal was announced, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D., CA) admitted that the Highway Trust Fund cannot currently meet the needs of the proposal and would need to be supplemented with an additional $12 billion to support projects funded by the bill. House and Senate Republicans have criticized the Committee for failing to provide acceptable revenue-generating schemes, but this week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., NV) announced that a solution may be in sight.

August 2, Reid indicated that Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D., MT) has identified ways to close the funding gap, but further details are being withheld at the moment. Nonetheless, Reid expects to have the bill drawn up in September after Congress returns from August recess.