Collage image across the top of the banner, from Left to Right. Rick stands in front of US Capitol Building, Rick at Nichols Bros Boat Builders in Freeland, Rick and his wife, Tiia Karlen, and Rick and a starfish in Friday Harbor
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In Focus
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Issues
Transportation

Reauthorization of the Federal Transportation Bill
In the Northwest transportation equals jobs. The transportation investments we make today will help create jobs and stimulate the economy. For every $1 billion spent on transportation projects, 47,500 jobs are directly or indirectly created. Our continued quality of life in the Pacific Northwest requires a strong and diverse transportation system.

The Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill, also known as SAFETEA-LU, was passed by Congress in July 2005. SAFETEA-LU authorizes $286 billion in federal funding through 2009 for highways, public transportation, highway safety, and congestion relief programs. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I worked hard to make sure that the final version of the bill addressed the critical transportation needs of the 2nd Congressional District.

The bill included over $52 million in funding for specific projects here in the 2nd District to address safety needs on our roads, such as safety improvements on Highway 2; congestion relief for commuters and for the flow of goods like the border crossing improvements at Pacific Highway in Blaine; increased freight mobility and increased annual funding for our ferry system which is the largest system in the nation.

Pipeline Safety
During my first term in Congress I fought hard for a pipeline safety bill, introducing H.R. 459, the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Act of 2001. H.R. 459 was eventually encompassed into the final version of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act which was signed into law December 2002. As a member of the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines, I will continue to work on the reauthorization of the 2002 Pipeline Safety Bill that is currently underway.

H.R. 5782, the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2006, was approved by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and includes an amendment to reauthorize the technical assistance grants for Pipeline Safety Information. These grants encourage the involvement of local communities in pipeline safety issues by granting up to $50,000 for technical assistance to local communities relating to the safety of pipeline facilities in local communities.

I made pipeline safety one of my top priorities in Congress. Working together with families, advocates in the community, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we will continue to work on improving pipeline safety in our county.



Helpful Web sites:
arrowWSDOT
arrowWashington State Ferries
arrowHouse Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
arrowAmtrak
arrowFAA
arrowUS Department of Transportation
arrowWhatcom Tranportation Authority
arrowSCAT
arrowIsland Transit
arrowCommunity Transit
arrowSound Transit