The following statement is from ARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane: “We commend the House and Senate for preserving the continuity of federal highway and transit funding to the states with a short-term revenue patch.  That, no doubt, temporarily saved many Americans their jobs.  We want to be clear, however, that we find no reason for anyone to celebrate what amounts to a last minute first down pass.  “It is incumbent on the Congress to now focus full-bore on the end zone—enacting a long-term, sustainable revenue solution for the Highway Trust Fund before the end of this year.  That will allow the Congress to then focus on developing and passing a long-term surface transportation program reauthorization bill before the eight-month May extension deadline that was just set expires.  There is no reason why a funding solution needs to wait for a reauthorization bill.  That’s putting the cart before the horse. “Otherwise, we’ll no doubt see a repeat of this same process next spring with yet another package of budget gimmicks while the 2015 construction season hangs in the balance.  “Americans deserve better than this on a core responsibility of the federal government.”