"The expiration of the SAFETEA-LU law poses a serious complication to our ability to obligate all the funds provided in the 2012 appropriation act," Rogoff wrote. "Once Congress provides us with the authority for the remainder of the year, we will be able to allocate the remaining appropriated funds."

Rogoff noted that there are two exceptions to this half-year limitation: the $2 billion Capital Investment Grants program (New Starts) is fully funded for the fiscal year as is FTA's research program. Both of these programs do not derive their monies from the Highway Trust Fund, which includes a Transit Account.

"We understand that it's a complex picture and one that does not lend itself to good long-term planning," Rogoff wrote. "Please know, however, that [U.S. Transportation] Secretary [Ray] LaHood and I have been continually calling on Congress to pass a robust, multiple-year authorization bill so as to eliminate this uncertainty and put taxpayer dollars to work rapidly to improve our transit systems, create jobs, and accelerate our economic recovery."

Rogoff's letter, including a table detailing the budget for FY 2012 by major program, is available at 1.usa.gov/Rogoff012012. He also called attention in the letter to a few additional key items in this year's transit appropriations: funding flexibility to cover fuel costs, promoting energy efficiency and sustainability, and continued support for military veterans.

FTA's 71-page Federal Register notice from Jan. 11, "Fiscal Year 2012 Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information," is available at 1.usa.gov/FTA249.