WASHINGTON – The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials commends President Barack Obama for using his State of the Union address to reiterate his unrelenting support for greater investment in the highways, bridges, mass transit, and rail systems that support our economy and quality of life.

"President Obama is once again shining the national spotlight on this most critical of issues," said John Horsley, AASHTO executive director. "The president's words and recent actions by congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle give transportation proponents optimism that an agreement can be reached on a multiyear surface transportation reauthorization bill in the near future. Major transportation projects take years of planning, design, construction, and investment. State departments of transportation need the certainty and stability that a multiyear authorization bill brings. Passing one short-term extension after the other is not the answer."

Congress has extended the 2005 highway and transit authorization law known as "SAFETEA-LU," eight times since it originally expired Sept. 30, 2009. The current extension will expire March 31.