Your Nov. 17 Pre-Trip: House OKs another highway patch

The House approved a measure to extend federal transportation funding for another two weeks, The Hill reports.

Nov. 17, 2015

2 min read

Here are five things worth knowing today:

1. The House approved a measure to extend federal transportation funding for another two weeks, The Hill reports. In an effort to prevent a highway-funding shutdown, the House voiced its vote to extend transportation spending until Friday, Dec. 4. The Senate is expected to take up the latest patch at the end of this week. According to The Hill, lawmakers hope this new patch will give them time to finish work on a multiyear bill. Congress has not passed a highway bill that lasts longer than two years since 2005, according to the report.

2. In the wake of Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris, transportation officials in Washington and across the U.S. are boosting security. According to The Washington Post, the announcement of enhanced security comes after an Islamic State video warned of an attack in Washington. The Post has more.

3. The Department of Transportation is holding a webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. ET, that will examine large truck crash fatalities involving pedestrians and bicyclists. The webinar will present new research findings, include a case-study, and will outline available community resources.

4. The Roadway Safety Foundation and Federal Highway Administration honored 10 highway safety projects from across the country with National Roadway Safety Awards, according to FHWA. Award recipients are credited for developing life-saving programs to help lessen the toll of highway fatalities and injuries on our nation’s roadways. A list of criteria and the 2015 honorees are available at FHWA.

5. Iowa’s Department of Transportation has added four more safety patrol trucks to its Highway Helper program, Radio Iowa reports. The program, which has two patrol trucks in Des Moines, will expand into the City-Cedar Rapids metro area and the Council Bluffs metro area, according to the report. Highway Helper vehicles assist motorists with flat tires, jump starts, fuel and transports free of charge. The goal, according to DOT, is to improve highway safety.