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Late last week, the U.S. House and Senate voted to approve a continuing resolution that will continue federal funding of government agencies through the remainder of the federal fiscal-year 2013, which ends Sept. 30.

The legislation includes some adjustments to the original House measure, such as full funding of the MAP-21 surface transportation law's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula and bus programs at $8.5 billion, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) officials reported in the association's latest Passenger Transport magazine.

The measure also provides $4 million to fund the new FTA transit safety program, which was established under MAP-21.

However, the continuing resolution does not change the sequestration process. As a result, despite the restoration of MAP-21 formula and bus funding, those programs funded out of the general fund — including New Starts, FTA research, FTA administration, Hurricane Sandy Emergency Relief and Amtrak —  will still face reductions of about 5 percent from fiscal-year 2013 levels, APTA reported.

The continuing resolution legislation now goes to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it, APTA officials said.