The few details available so far about which programs will be cut under the April 8 budget deal that averted a government shutdown are not good news for construction.
While lawmakers and their staffs draft the bill that will fund federal agencies through Sept. 30, a one-week stopgap signed on April 9 will keep the government open through April 15.
That short spending measure has the first $2 billion in spending cuts out of about $38 billion in reductions called for in the budget deal among the White House, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).
Much of that $2 billion comes from transportation infrastructure. The one-week bill slices Dept. of Transportation high-speed and intercity passenger rail funds by $1.5 billion, though it still leaves DOT $1 billion to spend for the program through Sept. 30.
The mini-stopgap also trims Federal Transit Administration new starts funding by $280 million, to $1.7 billion.The Senate Appropriations Committee says that $1.7 billion will be enough to fund transit projects that already have grant agreements with FTA.
The longer continuing resolution that is coming will have about $36 billion more in spending cuts.
More details after they become available.