More than 10 weeks into fiscal 2010, funding numbers for the year finally have fallen into place for several key federal construction programs. A Senate vote on Dec. 13 gave final congressional approval to a huge, $446.8-billion spending package that includes six individual appropriations bills for 2010, including transportation and military construction. Results for construction accounts were mixed. Highways, transit, General Services Administration new construction and Dept. of Veterans Affairs programs all won increases, but there were deep cuts in prisons and GSA renovations.

Federal-aid highways received a 2.5% boost, thanks to a small hike in the trust-fund-financed obligation limit and $650 million from the general fund. “In aggregate, it’s a billion-dollar ‘plus-up,’ ” says David Bauer, American Road & Transportation Builders Association senior vice president. “It’s an increase well above what inflation would dictate.”

Another highlight is $2.5 billion for high-speed rail, supplementing the $8 billion for rail in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill says at least 85% of the $2.5 billion should go for “entire segments or phases” of rail corridors. American Public Transportation Association President William Millar notes that appropriators also urged the Dept. of Transportation to focus its high-speed-rail funds on 11 already designated corridors. In another ARRA add-on, the package has $600 million for DOT discretionary grants for major national or regional projects. ARRA had $1.5 billion for such projects. DOT is to pick the first winners early in 2010.

In GSA’s $894-million construction allotment, the largest items are $211 million for a new Salt Lake City courthouse and $190.7 million for a Federal Bureau of Investigation Miami field office. Senate appropriators recommended $700 million for Dept. of Education school construction grants, but that provision wasn’t included in the final package.