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What to expect as Congress looks to renew transportation funding

Talking Michigan Transportation

Chapters
0:07
Setting The Stage: Reauthorization
2:35
Why Certainty Matters For DOTs
3:39
Member Day And Congressional Priorities
4:46
Michigan Voices And Broader Infrastructure
6:00
Lessons From IIJA And Expectations
6:51
MDOT And AASHTO Funding Priorities
9:19
Formula Vs Discretionary Grants
12:52
Regional Projects That Shape Corridors
14:13
Safety Break And Language Matters
14:53
NEPA Delegation: Speed And Risk
18:24
Bipartisanship And Timelines
19:51
New Revenue Ideas For The Highway Trust Fund
21:42
Thanks, Credits, And Where To Find Us
Talking Michigan Transportation
What to expect as Congress looks to renew transportation funding
Jan 15, 2026 Season 8 Episode 252
Michigan Department of Transportation

Surface transportation reauthorization is the regular federal legislative process to renew and fund U.S. transportation programs for highways, transit, rail and safety, setting policies and priorities for billions in spending, with the current major authorization (part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) set to expire Sept. 30, 2026, prompting ongoing discussions for the next bill. 

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Zach Rable, a federal policy specialist at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), talks about priorities for Michigan.

He explains those priorities largely dovetail with those the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) are pushing.

Photo by Adam Michael Szuscik on Unsplash.