LaHood optimistic on long-term surface transportation bill

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is optimistic that Congress can complete a long-term surface transportation reauthorization before the August recess. 

LaHood said he has discussed the long-delayed measure with House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). 

"I'd like to have a transportation bill on the president's desk by the August recess," he said Friday during a conference call with reporters. He said the bill would be "significant and substantial" and that lawmakers in the House and Senate appear committed to complete the legislation. 

He said he hopes the House will present and mark up a bill soon. 

In the meantime, LaHood said the $48 billion included in the economic stimulus has helped start 15,000 projects and create thousands of jobs in the past two years.  

The most recent authorization for the nation’s highway, transit and highway safety programs expired in September 2009.

Mica's committee has scheduled a series of field hearings, beginning Feb. 14. 

Former Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), who proposed a $500 billion measure in 2009 that included $50 billion for high-speed rail efforts, saw his legislation put on hold by the Obama administration because of the large price tag and the lack of a funding mechanism. The easiest funding option would be a slight increase in the gas tax, but that choice wasn't politically viable during the downturn. Before leaving Congress, Oberstar continued to argue that a six-year bill would create 6 million jobs in the time frame.