If Congress fails to find the revenue to pass a new bill or at least extend MAP-21 by Sept. 30, Brian Deery, senior director of the Associated General Contractors of America's highway and transportation division, says, "Then we're in between a very hard rock and a very hard place." Fiscal 2015 highway and transit aid for new projects will be in jeopardy.

State departments of transportation are preparing. Kirk Steudle, Michigan DOT director, says that, in cash-flow terms, his agency could cope with a federal highway aid slowdown for "a month, maybe a little more." But if September arrives with no remaining fiscal 2014 funds and MAP-21's end nearing, MDOT would be unable to award new contracts or, perhaps, even advertise them, Steudle says. "So that's where the rubber really hits the road," he observes.

In Ohio, Gov. John Kasich's (R) $1.5- billion program to issue bonds against future Ohio Turnpike tolls will fund northern Ohio projects, says Greg Murphy, Ohio DOT assistant director and chief of staff. But he adds, "If the transportation fiscal cliff happens, we would have to slow down projects in southern Ohio that aren't related to the turnpike."

Wyoming's highway-improvement program relies on federal funds for about 66% of its total funding. The worst-case federal scenario would have "dire implications for our program in '15 and '16," says John Cox, Wyoming DOT director. He says up to 70 to 80 projects, totaling $250 million to $300 million, could be stalled.

Still, Cox and others were pleased to see the Obama and Camp announcements. Jay Hansen, National Asphalt Pavement Association executive vice president, says, "I have not felt this upbeat in a long time." He says Congress isn't likely to pass major tax reform this year but suggests a transportation revenue fix could come via an appropriations bill or a measure to extend expired tax breaks. Hansen says, "We don't know yet the path through the woods."