The House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation that funds and extends the authorization for federal highway and transit programs through November 20, and that prevents a shutdown of the U.S. rail transportation system by extending the deadline for implementation of positive train control technology.

The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015 (H.R. 3819) was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR).

“Last week, the Transportation Committee unanimously approved bipartisan, multi-year surface transportation legislation, and today’s Surface Transportation Extension Act will ensure that states can continue to fund transportation projects while Congress continues to make progress on the multi-year bill,” Shuster said. 

“H.R. 3819 also recognizes that failing to extend the positive train control deadline now will have devastating economic impacts,” Shuster continued. “Not only will railroads stop shipping important chemicals critical to manufacturing, agriculture, clean drinking water, and other industrial activities, but passenger and commuter rail transportation will virtually screech to a halt. A PTC-related rail shutdown would pull $30 billion out of the economy in the first quarter and lead to 700,000 jobs lost in just one month. It’s our responsibility to extend this deadline now, and avoid shutting down much of our rail system.”