The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials supports the efforts of the House of Representatives to pass legislation today to extend authorization of federal-aid highway and transit programs. It is urgent that the the federal-aid highway and transit programs not be shut down Oct. 1 when the current act expires.

However, state transportation departments will be impacted because the legislation does not repeal the $8.7 billion highway contract authority rescission that will take effect Sept. 30.

"This rescission will amount to real dollar losses to programs and projects, and will have a devastating effect on many state departments of transportation and reverse the positive economic gains brought about by the recovery act," said John Horsley, AASHTO executive director. "For example, Missouri will lose $202 million in contract authority and the cut will have a disproportionate impact on local bridges and metropolitan planning organizations. Colorado would lose $115 million in contract authority. Michigan's share of the rescission is $263 million, which amounts to approximately a quarter of what that state received for highway and bridge funding through the recovery act.

"States are just starting to pick up some momentum through economic recovery," Horsley added. "Now is not the time to turn back the clock."