Letter to Victor Mendez, Federal Highway Administrator

Letter

Today, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson announced his continued efforts to speed up the repair of nearly two dozen Nebraska roads and bridges, so Nebraskans will no longer be inconvenienced by projects that have dragged on for years.
"I'm pushing to get Nebraska roads and bridges that have been damaged by flooding -- as far back as 2008 -- on the front burner for repair and completion soon," Senator Nelson said during his weekly conference call with members of the Nebraska news media.

"Nebraskans remain deeply frustrated as to why permanent repairs have not moved forward on even the simplest of reconstruction projects for roads damaged by flooding. After the Missouri River flooding, we saw how fast I-680 got repaired in Iowa," Nelson said. "Nebraskans are tired of the delays and bureaucratic red tape that has held up repairs on roads and bridges in our state."

On Monday, Nelson wrote to Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez to ask for a detailed and comprehensive list of every document and step which must be completed for each flood repair project in Nebraska. Nelson asked that the Federal Highway Administration give an updated status report on that list every 60 days.

Nelson also told Mendez that the drawn-out process of making the repairs may lead him to push again during the Senate's consideration of the highway bill for waivers of redundant environmental reviews during the repair of roads damaged by natural disasters, such as last year's flooding along the Missouri River.
Information from the Nebraska Department of Roads shows at least 22 road and bridge permanent repair projects that have not yet even begun construction.

"These roads projects are both important job creators and key transportation links for Nebraskans, and shouldn't face further delay," Nelson said. "Nebraskans want state and federal roads officials to work together and get our roads and bridges back in shape so Nebraskans can get where they need to go for travel and business."

He added that it's time for American infrastructure to become a priority in Washington.

"Too often in Washington, the so-called budget hawks are too willing to invest American tax dollars for war and rebuilding other countries -- like Iraq -- but then want to cut spending that is needed to improve the quality of life in America, especially in rural states like Nebraska," Nelson said.
Text of Senator Nelson's February 6 letter to Administrator Mendez is below, followed by text of Administrator Mendez' January 9 letter to Senator Nelson.

February 6, 2012
Administrator Victor Mendez
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590

Dear Administrator Mendez:

Thank you for your letter of January 9, 2012. I appreciated this update regarding the ongoing work between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Nebraska Department of Roads, local municipalities, and other government agencies to try avoiding any further delay by expediting the repair of roads damaged by flooding events going back to 2008.

It is my understanding that all of the damaged sites have been inspected and the scopes of work for permanent repairs have been agreed upon; however, no permanent repair construction has yet taken place with the local federal aid system. I have also been informed that the vast majority of emergency relief projects in Nebraska will not be let until November 2012 because several additional requirements still need to be completed, which would result in construction not beginning on these projects until 2013.

Many Nebraskans remain deeply frustrated as to why repairs have not moved forward on even the simplest of reconstruction projects for those roads which already existed prior to the flooding. This frustration is reinforced when it is widely reported in the Nebraska media that major reconstruction of Interstates I 680 and I 29 across the Iowa border were able to be completed quickly and have been open to traffic for months.

I recognize the unique steps the FHWA has taken and the resources the agency has committed towards completing the approval of some of the required documents. For this, I am thankful as any progress is most certainly welcome. While the repairs in Iowa prove that when the FHWA and state transportation agencies work together, projects can be expedited, I join my fellow Nebraskans in their frustrations over the arduous process and the length of time it is taking to make flood-damaged repairs in our state.

As a result of the length of time it is taking to move to construction on these projects, I will continue to consider bringing forward a legislative resolution, including on a future highway authorization bill, that would exempt roads damaged by floods from redundant environmental reviews during the reconstruction process.

In addition, I request the following documentation from the FHWA:

A detailed and comprehensive list of every document and step which must be completed for each flood repair project in Nebraska. This list should note which local, state, or federal agency holds responsibility for completing each document or step; the status of each document or step; and a targeted date by when a document or step can expect to be completed. Such a list would provide a tangible method for measuring progress towards construction by creating benchmarks for those steps which are either being met or not.
An update of this list every 60 days.

Administrator Mendez, thank you for your consideration of this request. I appreciate the personal commitment you have made to move these roads projects forward and hope that steps will continue to be taken towards expediting actual construction on all of these projects.

Sincerely,

E. Benjamin Nelson
United States Senator

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