November 13, 2003
Thursday - 12:50 am

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee, welcomed the approval for several amendments to the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). "The highway bill is the largest economic engine of this Congress. I am looking forward to seeing it go to the Senate floor

"My state is the only one in the United States that is still largely without the ability to get its residents - or the goods they need - from one place to another by road. I believe it is time for the United States Congress to address this issue, and I will continue to seek opportunities to do so."... Sen. Murkowski

early next year, and to its eventual enactment. It will help to create jobs, promote economic growth and address Alaska's transportation needs," said Murkowski. "I am working closely with Congressman Young, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, to ensure we have a coordinated effort to address Alaska's transportation needs with this legislation." The bill, called the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA), is planned around a proposed budget of $255 billion to address the nation's surface transportation needs for the next six years. However, the exact funding level is still not assured, and adjustments upward or downward may be possible. Given that uncertainty, Committee leaders have been reluctant to release funding levels for each state. Still, Murkowski says Alaska will receive a significant funding increase. "We expect by the time the process is complete, this bill will provide roughly 30% more money than the last six-year reauthorization bill," Murkowski said. Although the addition of new programs was strongly discouraged by senior members of the committee, Murkowski won panel approval for amendments to continue spending $18.8 million per year for Alaska Highway reconstruction; to relieve states and municipalities from burdensome new environmental planning requirements; and to conduct research into the potential effects of permafrost changes on roads and bridges. She also worked with other members to successfully obtain an increase in funding for highway/railroad safety projects, including grade separation; projects to improve safety around America's schools; and a new program providing $15 million per year for replacement of Forest Service road culverts which are barriers to fish passage.

Other Alaska priorities, according to Murkowski, may have to wait until the bill reaches the floor and exact funding levels are known. "The funding uncertainty is a real problem, and made it very difficult to pursue some of the other issues important to Alaska, including the need for new roads to get Alaskans to school and work, and a revision of the Indian Reservation Road program inventory, which is presently very unfair to Alaska Native villages. I plan to revisit these issues again to make sure Alaskan's transportations needs are met."

Murkowski said the same thing to her colleagues during the committee meeting. She noted during her opening statement that, "My state is the only one in the United States that is still largely without the ability to get its residents - or the goods they need - from one place to another by road. I believe it is time for the United States Congress to address this issue, and I will continue to seek opportunities to do so."

Source of News Release:

Office of Senator Lisa Murkowski
Web Site

 

E-mail Editor: editor@sitnews.org
Post a Comment -------View Comments
Submit an Opinion - Letter

Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska