WASHINGTON – In a speech on Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced plans to speed up permits for building roads, bridges and other infrastructure, part of a broader effort to highlight the administration's focus on transportation as a highway trust fund runs dry, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.

A White House official said the new plan would add to prior efforts to "cut through red tape and expedite permitting decisions," while retaining environmental protections. The President discussed highway infrastructure spending at an event near New York City's Tappan Zee Bridge, a span that is overdue for replacement. The president's remarks and other events this week are meant to ratchet up pressure on lawmakers to approve new transportation funding.

The Highway Trust Fund, which pays for building and repairing roads, is expected to run dry as soon as August, a development that would force the federal government to curtail payments to states.

Lawmakers from both parties want to keep funds flowing but disagree over how to raise the money and how much to spend on infrastructure. Because of the approaching November election, Congress may opt for a short-term fix, effectively delaying a larger debate until next year.