U.S. Extends Surface Transportation Authorization to December 11

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 2, the U.S. President signed H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, extending the authorization for federal surface transportation programs, originally set to expire on September 30, to December 11, 2026. The Act separately establishes the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2026, allowing highway, public transit, and related transportation programs supported by the Highway Trust Fund to continue operating until a new long-term authorization is enacted.

The Act temporarily extends Highway Trust Fund contract authority programs and transit programs supported by regular annual appropriations at fiscal year 2026 levels, but does not extend the advance appropriations for public transit and passenger rail set by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for fiscal years 2022–2026. The American Public Transportation Association estimates that, without these funds, federal public transit investment in fiscal year 2027 will decline by approximately 20% from current fiscal year 2026 levels, while passenger rail investment will decline by approximately 81%.

Previously, advance appropriations provided approximately $4.25 billion annually for public transit and approximately $13.2 billion for passenger rail. Programs affected by this interim arrangement include bus and bus facilities grants, state of good repair formula grants, capital investment grants, and related Federal Railroad Administration passenger rail programs. Passenger rail did not receive its customary annual guaranteed advance appropriations under this extension.

H.R. 6500 also extends the obligation authority for certain Capital Investment Grant (CIG) programs facing imminent expiration of funding authority. The Act further maintains temporary funding and authorization for Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and related U.S. Department of Transportation programs through December 11.

The current five-year surface transportation authorization framework in the U.S. was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021, with the relevant authorizations set to expire at the end of September. Congress is currently advancing the next long-term surface transportation authorization bill; this extension pushes the new legislative and funding deadline to December 11.