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Transportation advocates last week said Congress probably will have to approve another temporary extension of transportation spending legislation, as a new highway bill appeared unlikely to be passed by the time the current extension runs out March 31.

President Obama’s proposed budget would spend $476 billion on transportation over the next six years — a nearly 50% increase over current levels.

The five-year, $260-billion surface transportation bill moving through the House of Representatives would prevent any federal Highway Trust Fund money from being spent on public transit.

Well, it appears that trucking has at least made some progress in getting Congress to address some of the issues that are impeding the industry’s efforts to deliver the nation’s freight.

A five-year transportation reauthorization bill that would provide around $250 billion for projects and safety programs is expected to be unveiled this week by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Marc Beam, the Truckload Carriers Association’s 2011 Highway Angel, is the type of person who saves the lives of a woman and two babies on a dark August night and doesn’t immediately tell anyone about it.

Yes, there has been some new movement on Capitol Hill in the drive to get a highway funding bill through and into law. But don’t pop the champagne just yet: the “movement” is simply Congress kicking the can down the road once again.

House Republicans said they plan to introduce a five-year highway funding bill that would be paid for by expanded domestic oil drilling.

At last, we’ve had some movement on Capitol Hill toward enactment of a new federal transportation funding act.