Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Friday, December 13, 2002

KANSAS CITY, MO – Senator Kit Bond continued his transportation forum today in Kansas City. Last week, Bond began the reauthorization of the federal highway bill with a series of meetings around Missouri. Bond was joined at today's meeting, hosted by the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), by Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) District IV Engineer Mr. Sabine Yanez.

The meetings will provide Bond the opportunity to hear directly from state and local leaders. And they will allow state and local leaders and Bond to begin working closely together on a unified strategy to improve Missouri's transportation infrastructure.

"Anyone who has driven on Missouri's highways knows we can – and must – do better," said Bond, who will become chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Nuclear Safety. "While there are no easy answers, I hope we can improve Missouri's position in the highway bill. To do that, it is vital that Missourians of all stripes – Democrat, Republican, rural and urban – pull together. " Bond cautioned that the reauthorization directs national, not local transportation priorities, and that any bill must win wide Senate approval, a task not easily accomplished.

Last week Bond met with state and local leaders in St. Joseph, St. Louis and Cape Girardeau. Early next week Bond will meet with officials in Springfield and Joplin. While Bond's goal is to increase Missouri's share of federal transportation funds, it is the state's jobs to identify and budget for specific projects.

Along with Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe, chairman of the full Environment and Public Works Committee, Bond will help write the law that, in large part, governs how and where tens of billions of federal dollars are spent to improve the nation's highways. The rewriting of this bill occurs only once every six years.

The new law builds upon previous reauthorizations, including the 1992 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and the 1998 Transportation Equity Act, which expires September 30, 2003.

Located in the geographic center of the nation, Missouri is home to the country's sixth largest highway network. Unfortunately, the condition of Missouri's roads and highways has lagged far behind their increased use. In fact, in many parts of the state, poor roadway conditions have led to high accident and fatality rates.

Bond vowed to work closely with President Bush, Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, his Senate colleagues and state and local officials from around the country to draft a reauthorization bill that meets the nation's needs.

For further information on the reauthorization of the highway bill, please visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization/index.htm.