Wicker Expects Early Passage of Transportation Bill
WICKER EXPECTS EARLY PASSAGE OF TRANSPORTATION BILL
REPORT FROM CONGRESS
By Congressman Roger F. Wicker
January 3, 2005
One of the top priorities to be considered when Congress convenes in January will be legislation to reauthorize long-term funding for the nation's transportation system. The resources provided by this program have enhanced public safety, sped delivery of goods and services, and created economic development opportunities in Mississippi and around the country.
The six-year authorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, also known as TEA 21, expired in 2004. While both Houses of Congress passed highway bills, negotiations among House and Senate leaders and White House officials failed to produce agreement on a final version. Congress approved a short-term extension in September. It will run through May 2005.
TEA 21 ROADBLOCKS
Despite bipartisan support for the highway, transit, and safety programs in TEA 21, disagreement about several provisions prevented it from passing. Some lawmakers expressed concerns about the fairness of the formula that allocates funds for the individual states. Questions were raised about the level of support for large-scale projects with national significance but whose costs are beyond the capacity of states and local communities to meet. A third funding concern was the issue of allocating resources for the popular corridors program created in the 1991 highway bill. The emerging new corridor routes include Interstate 69 through Mississippi.
North Mississippi motorists do not have to travel far in any direction these days to see work crews and heavy equipment engaged in highway construction activities. I have worked closely with Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott to help keep these projects on track. In previous versions of the highway reauthorization bill and through the annual appropriations process, we have secured funding for a number of important initiatives.
PROJECTS UNDER WAY
Among the highway projects moving forward in north Mississippi are:
* Four-laning of Highway 6 between Pontotoc and Tupelo. When the entire corridor is completed, it will provide a key link from Batesville to Tupelo and the Alabama state line.
* Work has begun on the Highway 45 bypass in Columbus, a move designed to ease congestion and create jobs in the Golden Triangle.
* Funding to widen Interstate 55 will provide for more efficient traffic flow in DeSoto County from Church Road to the Tennessee state line.
* Construction is well under way on segments of Interstate 69 in DeSoto County. Recent approval of the route of I-69 through northwest Mississippi will add momentum to our efforts on this 1,600 mile corridor that will connect Canada to Mexico.
FUTURE I-22 CORRIDOR
Another key highway-related development was our successful effort to designate U. S. Highway 78 as future Interstate 22. Signs denoting the route as "Future I-22 Corridor" are already up along Highway 78 from Itawamba to Desoto counties. This designation will boost the economic development possibilities throughout that route.
Transportation is the lifeblood of our nation's economy. In addition to making our roads safer and providing jobs, building and maintaining highways adds more than $150 billion to the nation's gross domestic product. I believe the funding provided in reauthorizing TEA 21 is an investment that will continue to pay dividends well into the future. I am hopeful we can move quickly to resolve differences and pass this legislation.
http://www.house.gov/wicker/TransBill.htm