Enzi, Senate Drive Transportation Bill Through
Enzi, Senate Drive Transportation Bill Through
Wyoming would make huge funding gain under new formula
The U.S. Senate passed a bill today that would increase transportation authorization funding for Wyoming by an average of about $59 million annually compared to current funding levels. The bill would also provide for the completion of many Wyoming transportation projects, further strengthening the economy, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.
The Senate passed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA) of 2005, H.R. 3, by a vote of 89-11 Tuesday. The transportation reauthorization bill would authorize about $295 billion for federal highway and transit programs over the next five years, including about $1.2 billion authorized for Wyoming.
"Wyoming and other Western, lower population states are protected by funding formula changes we made in this bill," said Enzi. "This bill could mean tens of millions more dollars would be pumped into the Wyoming economy for vital construction projects and an increase in jobs," said Enzi.
The Senate Banking Committee, which Enzi is a member, drafted language for the transit portion of the bill with provisions that would increase authorized funding levels for rural states.
Federal highway programs have operated under multiple short-term extensions since the expiration of the last transportation authorization bill, TEA-21, on September 20, 2003. The latest extension ends on May 31, 2005. Under TEA-21 the annual average apportionment for Wyoming was about $191 million. Under the SAFETEA bill, the average annual apportionment for Wyoming would be about $250 million, more than a 30 percent annual increase.
"The Wyoming Department of Transportation has had to make due on temporary funding extensions," said Enzi. "This bill should pave the way for states to get on with their projects and to continue providing safe transportation for our citizens."
The House passed its version of the highway bill on March 10 by a vote of 417-9 which would provide a $284 billion authorization of transportation funds. Differences between the House and Senate versions will now be worked out in a conference committee.
http://enzi.senate.gov/transauthorization.htm