At ceremonies July 6 in the East Room of the White House, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 4348—the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This legislation reauthorizes taxes that support the Highway Trust Fund through Sept. 30, 2016, and authority to make expenditures from that fund through Sept. 30, 2014, also making major reforms to surface transportation programs. This bill provides road and transit funding for the next two years.

Obama emphasized that MAP-21 will provide employment for thousands of construction workers on the job in rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure.

“My hope is this bipartisan spirit spills over into the next phase,” he continued, “that we can start putting more construction workers back to work—not just those that were already on existing projects who were threatened to be laid off, but also getting some new projects done that are vitally important to communities all across the nation and that will improve our economy.”

Obama reiterated that Congress should send him more bills like this one: “My message to Congress is the same thing I’ve been saying for months now—let’s keep going. Let’s keep finding ways to work together to grow the economy and help put more folks back to work. There’s no excuse for inaction where there’s so many Americans trying to get back on their feet.”

Among those in attendance were DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff, Rep. John Mica (R-FL), Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Michael Melaniphy, APTA president & CEO. 

“The signing of this bill provides a greater degree of certainty for public transportation agencies and private sector businesses to maintain, plan, and implement public transportation projects,” said Melaniphy.

Photo by Todd Parola President Obama signs MAP-21 in White House ceremonies July 6.

Among the public transportation guests at the White House to witness President Obama’s signing of MAP-21 are, from left, Dr. Kendra Taylor, CH2M Hill; Robert Prince, AECOM; APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy; Freddie Fuller, Cubic Transportation Systems; and Greer Gillis, PB.

 

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