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Late Tuesday, the Senate approved the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4691), which President Obama later signed into law. The measure extends federal transit and highway programs until March 28, according to an American Public Transportation Association (APTA)  “legislative alert” issued yesterday.

The Federal Transit Administration program now can resume processing grants and Federal Highway Administration employees can return to work, APTA said.  

The Senate approved the temporary extension by 78-19 vote after Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) agreed to end his objection to the bill in exchange for a vote on an amendment to offset spending under the temporary measure by reducing other government spending. However, the amendment failed by a 53-43 vote.  

“With a temporary extension enacted, Congress can begin working again to complete an extension of transportation programs through Dec. 31,” the APTA alert states. “The House and Senate are expected to modify the extension contained in the Senate-passed jobs bill (HIRE Act, Senate amendment to H.R. 2847) in order to enact a compromise between House and Senate leaders related to the distribution of discretionary highway funds under the extension and to possibly address offsets for non-transportation spending.”

A modified jobs bill soon could be considered by the House and Senate, or the transportation extension could be added to another legislative package, according to APTA.