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The landmark highway bill includes $225.5 billion for highway construction, $52.3 billion for transit and $3.2 billion for safety.

Rep. Don Young, an Alaska Republican and chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said the cash flow is "not what we wanted" and promised to push for more money as early as next year.

"There have been lots of cooks in this kitchen and we've been able to come out with a good product. We'll go to the Senate and we'll have this bill done before the first of June," Young said.

Highway spending is funded by taxes on gasoline bought by motorists. Efforts to modestly increase the gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon have been fiercely resisted in Congress even as lawmakers agree that the nation's aging infrastructure needs urgent repairs.

Lawmakers covet the economic stimulus provided by the transportation bill. It is estimated that for every $1 billion invested in highway and transit, 47,500 jobs are created or sustained.

"This will be the signature domestic legislation of this Congress in terms of the impact on the public," said Rep. Peter DeFazio, an Oregon Democrat.

Despite passage, some lawmakers remain dissatisfied with the formula for allocating highway grants. States that turn over more in gas tax receipts than they get back in highway aid have clamored for more money.

Under the new bill, California would receive $19 billion over six years, Texas, $16.6 billion, Pennsylvania, $10 billion and Florida $9.9 billion.

Others lawmakers have chafed at the 3,300 mandatory spending requirements, which include pet projects with thin if any link to transportation -- like museum renovation in Ohio and the restoration of a historic home in Virginia.

The last highway bill expired in 2003 and temporary funding at that year's levels has been extended through May. Provisions in this highway bill run through 2009.