Texas Transit Association

American Public Transportation Association reports that last Wednesday, Oct. 16, Congress sent the President another continuing resolution, which provides funding at the FY 2002 level for federal programs including the federal transit program through November 22. Congress is now on break for the November 5 elections, and will return for a lame duck session. Absent passage of a regular appropriations bill, the FTA cannot distribute funding under the new starts, bus and bus facilities program or job access and reverse commute programs that have been earmarked by Congressional Appropriations Committees, and it is unlikely that FTA will apportion formula funds if there is a chance that Congress will complete the regular appropriations process in November.