House approves extending transportation programs and Positive Train Control deadline

The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved bipartisan legislation to fund as well as extend the authorization of federal transit and highway programs and also extend the deadline for implementing Positive Train Control technology.

The programs and their funding now will reach until November 20, which means that there is still not a long-term solution for the problem of the deteriorating domestic infrastructure.

The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015, also known as HR 3819, was first introduced by Bill Shuster (R–PA), who serves as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman, Paul Ryan (R –WI), who is the Ways and Means Committee Chairman, and Peter DeFazio (D–OR), who is the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member.

The legislation also extends the deadline for Positive Train Control technology application. This will stop the U.S. rail transportation system from needing to shut down before the implementation is complete.

The Transportation Committee made the decision last week to unanimously approve of the legislation. Officially approving the act guarantees that the nation can fund transportation projects as Congress progresses with its multi-year bill for infrastructure.

Unless the leaders decided to extend the deadline for the Positive Train Control deadline, the US economy would suffer. Railroads would no longer be able to ship important materials needed for agriculture and manufacturing, but commuter and passenger transportation would also stop.