Frist Alexander, Duncan Announce Final House Passage of Highway Reauthorization Bill

FRIST, ALEXANDER, DUNCAN ANNOUNCE FINAL HOUSE PASSAGE OF HIGHWAY REAUTHORIZATION BILL

Bill includes significant funding for highway infrastructure in Second District

U.S. Sens. Bill Frist (R-TN) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) today announced final House passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) highway bill conference report which includes significant funding for Tennessee highway, transit and safety programs.

"After a long and hard fought process, I'm pleased that we've been able to secure a highway bill that funds Tennessee's transportation priorities," said Frist. "This legislation supports critical infrastructure projects and will spur economic development in the 2nd District. As Majority Leader, I'm committed to bringing this bill to the floor quickly so we can get it to the President for his signature. I want to thank Senator Alexander and Congressman Duncan for all of their hard work on behalf of Tennesseans." As Senate Majority Leader, Frist secured more than $200 million for Tennessee transportation projects.

"Better roads mean better jobs. This legislation provides funding to improve our interstates, highways and transportation infrastructure, which are critical to economic development in the 2nd District and across the state," said Alexander. "I will continue to work with Senator Frist and Congressman Duncan to make sure Tennessee communities receive the federal assistance they need to grow and prosper."

"I am pleased that Congress has passed this legislation funding important transportation initiatives, and I thank Senators Frist and Alexander for their tireless work on behalf of our state. This bill will create thousands of jobs across East Tennessee while addressing some of our region's most serious transportation needs and ensuring the state gets a better deal when federal highway dollars are distributed," Duncan said. As a senior member of the House Transportation Committee and a conferee, Duncan directed $65.5 million to the Second District's priority projects in addition to the $54.6 million targeted to the area by the Senate.
The legislation ensures that the State of Tennessee will receive a 26.71 percent increase in its highway formula funding over TEA-21 enacted levels. On average, Tennessee will receive an extra $168 million each year. Tennessee's rate of return for federal highway formula funding will increase from 90.5 percent to 91.5 percent in FY07 and to 92 percent in FY08.

The transit title of the highway reauthorization bill provides funding for a number of vital urban and rural transit programs and specific transit related projects. Overall, the State of Tennessee's transit formula apportionment will increase 164 percent over the previously enacted highway reauthorization bill. Tennessee will receive $216.7 million from FY2006 through FY2009. In addition, the state will receive $44.4 million for specific transit projects across the state.

The East Tennessee funding in the highway bill conference report includes:

·$20 million for the University of Tennessee Joint Institute for Advanced Materials.
·$17.5 million for construction of the Foothills Parkway.
·$12 million for Tennessee statewide bus replacement and implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems.
·$11.027 million for construction of the Central Station Transit Center in Knoxville.
·$8 million for the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Highway Cultural and Visitors Center in Maryville.
·$8 million for transportation research at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville/National Transportation Research Center, Inc.
·$6.5 million to widen state Route 62 in Knox County.
·$6.5 million to widen and improve state Route 33 in Knox County.
·$6.5 million to construct an overpass at Highway 321 and Highway 11 in Loudon.
·$6 million for improvements to the Blount/Sevier Corridor in Knoxville to support the South Waterfront Redevelopment project.
·$5 million to widen a railroad underpass and make access improvements to the Interstate 275 industrial business park in Knoxville.
·$5 million to construct and widen state Route 33 in Monroe County.
·$4.606 million to widen state Route 30 from Athens to Etowah.
·$3.6 million to construct a new exit on Interstate 75 and connect U.S. 11, U.S. 411 and state Route 30.
·$1.7 million to construct a transportation and heritage museum in Townsend.
·$1.6 million to construct streetscape improvements near the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville
·$1.44 million to widen Campbell Station Road in Knoxville.
·$1.2 million to construct a shoulder and turn lane on state Route 35 in Seymour.
·$1 million to construct a pedestrian bridge over Highway 129 in Alcoa.
·$920,000 to replace Unitia Bridge in Loudon County.
·$753,600 to improve 11 railroad crossings in the 2nd District.
·$740,000 to improve streetscape and repair pavement in McMinn County.
·$548,560 to construct Second Creek Greenway in Knoxville.
·$395,440 to construct an underpass at Boyd Station, Harvey, and McFee roads in Knoxville.
·$240,000 to improve streetscape and repair pavement in Monroe County.
·$240,000 to construct park access and trails in Athens Regional Park.
·$240,000 to improve streetscape and repair pavement in Loudon County.
·$240,000 to improve streetscape and repair pavement in Blount County.
·$200,000 to improve streetscape in Greenback.
·$200,000 to construct lighting on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Loudon.
·$80,000 to construct intersections in Niota.
·$80,000 to construct a visitors center on Cherohala Skyway in Monroe County.
·$16,000 to restore the historic L&N Depot in McMinn County.

The conference report is expected to be approved by the Senate prior to the August recess and will then go to President Bush for his signature.

http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=2037&Month=7&Year=2005