Simpson and Otter Support Transportation Bill
Press Release
July, 29, 2005
Simpson and Otter Support Transportation Bill
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and C.L. "Butch" Otter today supported House passage of the conference report to H.R. 3 - The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.
H.R. 3 provides $286.5 billion in federal highway, transit and road safety funding nationwide through 2009, including an average allocation of approximately $276.7 million per year for Idaho. The legislation also seeks to correct problems of congestion, unsafe highways and an inefficient, cumbersome process for moving projects to completion, all while providing for creation of millions of new jobs in the transportation sector and related industries.
"A safe, efficient, and modern transportation system is essential to the economic stability of our state," said Congressman Simpson. "The passage of this legislation is great news for anyone in Idaho who wants to operate a business, grow a farm or ranch, or take their family on vacation. I'm thrilled that within a fiscally responsible budget the Idaho congressional delegation was able to deliver a number of vitally important projects for our state."
"Besides the clear financial benefits for Idaho in this legislation, my focus has been on crafting a more reasonable and efficient highway bill that ensures those benefits won't be tied up for years in hand-wringing bureaucracy and legal wrangling," Congressman Otter said. "The streamlining provisions in this conference report will empower states to play a bigger role in moving transportation projects from planning to creation of more jobs and safer highways. That's a welcome change."
Projects specifically approved for Idaho in the bill include:
* Improvements to widen US-95, Mica to Worely $27,400,000
* Improvements to SH-75, Timmerman to Ketchum $22,800,000
* Improvements to US-20, Menan-Lorenzo $12,000,000
* Interchange on I84 at Ten-Mile Road, Meridian $19,600,000
* Improvements to US-30, McCammon to Lava East $11,000,000
* Improvements to US-93, Twin Falls Stages II and III $13,000,000
* Construct Washington Street North, Twin Falls $5,400,000
* Widen Amity Road, Nampa $4,600,000
* Reconstruct Grangemont Road, Orofino to MP 9.3 $9,600,000
* Improvements to US-95, SH-1 to Canada border $2,400,000
* Improvements to SH-55, Mile Posts 94 and 102 $5,600,000
* Widen US-95, Top of Lewiston Hill to Moscow $1,600,000
* Improvements to Bridging the Valley, Kootenai County $5,000,000
* Improvements to Three Cities River Crossing, Eagle $3,000,000
* Improvements to Amity Road to Kings Overpass, Nampa $4,000,000
* Boise Mutlimodal Facility $3,762,000
* Idaho DOT Statewide Intelligent Transportation System $1,500,000
In addition, the bill contains several important streamlining provisions to eliminate red-tape put more authority in the hands of state policy-makers. Among the many streamlining provisions are the following:
* Places deadlines on decision by other federal agencies that could hold up projects
* Puts a 180-day limit on filing suits over a project with proper approval
* Creates a pilot program for states to take over the environmental approval process
* Excludes the interstate system from being considered an historical site
The Senate is expected to consider the conference report later today after which it will be sent to President Bush for his signature.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/id02_simpson/trans_conference.html