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Congress on Tuesday approved the Continuing Appropriations and Surface Transportation Extensions Act of 2011, a continuing resolution to fund federal programs, including those administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, at fiscal-year 2010 levels through March 4, according to a legislative alert issued by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

The bill replaces earlier attempts to fund federal programs through the end of FY2011.  Combined with other continuing resolutions, the bill now makes five months of FY2011 funding available to transit programs, or about 42.5 percent of the full amount for FY2010, APTA’s alert said.

The bill also includes an extension of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) through March 4. The previous extension was set to expire Dec. 31. This marks the sixth extension of SAFETEA-LU since the original authorization expired on Sept. 30, 2009, APTA said.

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), the incoming chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has indicated that a new, long-term authorization bill will be a top priority when the new Congress convenes in January, the APTA alert said.