Vermont's Welch: Can't Predict Outcome on Transportation in Congress

Vermont Congressman Peter Welch is offering no guarantees that Congress will pass a new transportation spending package before a May 31 deadline.

Congress could a pass temporary spending measure lasting several months, but both Welch and state transportation officials say that hurts the ability to plan long-term road, bridge and other projects.

Welch came to the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday to brief the House and Senate transportation committees on prospects for replacing a six-year funding package that's due to expire. He says without new funding, the federal Highway Trust Fund could be insolvent by the end of May.

Vermont Transportation Secretary Sue Minter says some states are putting projects this year on hold, for fear of a loss of funding, but Vermont has not done that.