Safety issues persist despite transportation bill approval

The Senate recently voted to approve a surface transportation reauthorization for the next six years, but experts say that safety issues continue to be a concern.

The new bill includes rail, highway and transit program funding for the next three years.

The Senate is rushing to deliver the bill to the president before the current funds expire on July 31, 2015. Until then, the House has passed an extension for funding programs through to the end of 2015.

"While some lawmakers seem content to ignore our broad transportation infrastructure needs, it is clear many U.S. roads and bridges don't have the luxury of time to be fixed," Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said. "Congress must put aside partisan agendas and work together. No more delays and no more short-term patches."

In the meantime, bridges have fallen into disrepair and collapsed entirely, like the bridge on Interstate 10 in Southern California, which provides access to busy roads.

"It's time for Congress to feel the need for speed," Hoffa said. "It must move swiftly to enact a comprehensive, long-term highway bill that will generate jobs and build, maintain and repair our ailing infrastructure. Let's get America working. But let's not compromise highway and rail safety and put workers and the public in harm's way to accomplish those goals."