House Passes Highway Bill With All Transit Corridors

House Passes Highway Bill With All Transit Corridors

WASHINGTON-The House today passed legislation that authorizes highway and transit projects for six years. The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (TEA LU) passed by an overwhelming vote of 417 to 9.

"As the only member of the committee from Miami-Dade, I worked with the Chairman to ensure that all Miami-Dade transit corridors were included in this reauthorization," said Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who sits on the Transportation Committee. "I am very pleased with the success we have had with this important legislation, but there is still more work to be done. As this bill now moves to conference with the Senate, I will continue to work to ensure these important projects remain in the final bill and signed into law by President Bush."

During the debate on the bill, Diaz-Balart had a colloquy with House Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Chairman Tom Petri highlighting the committee's commitment to continued discussion on a legislative provision that would allow $100 million committed by Florida Department of Transportation for the MIC-Earlington Heights connector to be used as part of the non-federal share for other transit corridors.

"Chairman Young recently visited the district to learn more about this issue and Chairman Petri will be coming soon to also learn firsthand," Diaz-Balart continued. "I was able to reaffirm the chairman's commitment to continuing to work on this vital provision for Miami-Dade transit. I look forward to continuing those discussions through conference."

In the last Congress, Diaz-Balart was successful in having all Miami-Dade corridors included in the highway reauthorization bill, but a final bill never materialized and the legislation died in conference. Diaz-Balart successfully included all Miami-Dade corridors again this year and the legislation's prospects for becoming law are also better.

http://www.house.gov/mariodiaz-balart/news/2005news/0310405_tealu_miami.htm