"Rhode Island's congressional delegation is well aware of the vital transportation needs of the state," said Rhode Island Transportation Director Michael Lewis. "RIDOT is in constant communication with our senators and representatives to keep them aware of our current and proposed projects. We view them as key partners who are very supportive of our mission to maintain the best transportation system we can for Rhode Islanders."

Congress adjourned earlier this month for summer recess without either chamber introducing or acting on legislation to reauthorize programs funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration -- legislation that must pass by Sept. 30 or the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal gasoline tax and the 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal diesel tax will expire. (see Aug. 5 AASHTO Journal story)

To add to the urgency of congressional action, both the House and Senate have a recess scheduled the week of Sept. 26-30 due to the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown Sept. 28. Both chambers are scheduled to be in session three days the week of Sept. 5 and four days each the weeks of Sept. 12 and 19, adjourning Sept. 23 for the Rosh Hashanah recess.

Facing a tight timeframe for moving a bill through Congress and to the White House to reauthorize highway and transit programs, state transportation departments are raising their voices to express the urgency of congressional action not only to reauthorize the programs but to ensure they are funded at the current levels -- which have been frozen since Fiscal Year 2009 when the last multiyear surface transportation authorization law known as "SAFETEA-LU" expired. A budget passed by the House of Representatives in April calls for cutting surface transportation funding by one-third for the federal fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 -- a rule the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Republican leadership had to follow when outlining a reauthorization measure last month. (see July 8 AASHTO Journal story)

Martinovich to Join SASHTO Leaders at Press Conference Tuesday in Kentucky

AASHTO President Susan Martinovich, director of the Nevada Department of Transportation, will participate Tuesday in a news briefing at the Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. The press conference has been called to "sound the alarm about the urgent need for Congress to take action by Sept. 30," according to AASHTO.

Kentucky Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock will outline his department's analysis of the impact a shutdown of federal highway and transit programs would have on his state. Other SASHTO leaders are also expected to talk about how Congress must act to maintain current funding levels or hundreds of thousands of workers across the United States would face furlough Oct. 1 if highway and transit programs are not reauthorized or if they are continued but at substantially lower funding levels.

Some 74,000 workers nationwide were idled for two weeks in July and early August after a two-week shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration. (see Aug. 5 AASHTO Journal story)

"During this month-long congressional break when members are at home, we are urging state DOTs and others to continue meeting with their senators and representatives to urge them to take action by the end of September," Martinovich said. "We are trying to send them as strong a message as possible. And we urge everyone, from private citizens to business leaders and local politicians, to join us."