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Senators have reached an agreement on how to debate a highway funding bill, setting up floor votes on the measure early next week, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute received $55 million in federal contracts to study safety efforts for commercial truck drivers and automated vehicles.

With only two weeks remaining until Congress adjourns for the summer, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and the 11 secretaries of transportation before him urged Congress to pass a bill to boost the Highway Trust Fund before that account runs out of money next month.

Roadrunner Transportation Systems has acquired regional logistics firm Integrated Services for $13 million.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said he thinks there will be enough senators next week who will support a 10-month Highway Trust Fund fix, legislation that easily advanced out of the House on July 15.

President Obama on July 17 signed an initiative aimed at helping state agencies connect with private-sector investors to upgrade the country’s aging transportation infrastructure.

The economy continued to expand moderately from late May to early July in most of the country with broad-based demand for trucking and rail services rising, the Federal Reserve said.

In a reversal of roles, private citizens went to Capitol Hill to hear testimony from senators, representatives, executive branch officials and staff aides on freight transportation policy.