WALZ ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR IMPORTANT MINNESOTA TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

11/14/2007

Appropriations bill expected to pass the House later today



(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Rep. Tim Walz announced that several important transportation projects received funding in the FY08 Transportation Appropriations bill that the House is expected to pass today. Specifically, Walz said that H.R. 3074 includes nearly $1 million dollars for Highway 14 and an additional $300,000 for an MNDOT garage facility in Albert Lea.

“These three projects are critical to southern Minnesota,” Walz said. “Although the bill has not yet been signed into law, I am optimistic that Highway 14 and the Albert Lea transportation facility will receive this funding when the process is complete. I hope the Senate will act quickly to pass this bill and send it on to the President for his signature.”

The following three appropriations requests are included in the FY08 Transportation Appropriations bill. As part of new ethics rules put in place by the new leadership in Congress to ensure transparency in the appropriations process, these requests bear Congressman Walz’s name.

Highway 14: Waseca to Owatonna $500,000

This money will fund construction along the Waseca-Owatonna segment.

Highway 14: North Mankato to New Ulm $350,000

These funds are designated for planning and environmental review along the North Mankato-New Ulm segment.

Albert Lea Garage Facility $300,000

This facility will house MnDOT equipment, improve overall vehicle service and increase intra-state coordination of transit equipment.

The bill also includes $195 million for the reconstruction of the I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis.

Other provisions in the legislation include:

Highway Infrastructure: Appropriates $40.2 billion to improve and maintain our nation’s aging highway infrastructure and create an additional 100,000 new jobs.

Investment in Aging Bridges: An additional $1 billion is provided to address aging bridges throughout the nation following the I-35 tragedy.

Federal Transit Administration: $9.65 billion, including for Capital Investment Grants for commuter rail or other light rail systems to increase public use of mass transit, alleviate traffic congestion, reduce gas consumption, and save commuters money while reducing pollution.

Air Traffic Control Modernization: Provides $65 million above the President's request to speed deployment of the next generation of air traffic control equipment.


Small Community Air Service Development Program: $10 million to continue the DOT grant program to help small communities to attract commercial air service.


Rural Housing and Economic Development: $17 million to revitalize economically depressed rural communities. This funding is competitively awarded to local nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, Indian tribes, and state housing finance agencies to address rural housing and economic development needs.