Wyden, Smith Secure More Than $500 Million
For Oregon Transportation Projects
Funds will create jobs, improve transportation
infrastructure statewide
September 3, 2003
Washington, DC – U.S.
Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore) today announced
the initial approval of more than $500 million in new transportation
funds to improve Oregon’s highways and bridges, small airports,
mass transit and offer new commuting solutions for low-income
workers. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation
approved the funds today as part of the FY2004 Transportation
and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Overall, the subcommittee
recommended more than $374 million in federal highway funds for
Oregon, earmarked more than $100 million for Oregon-specific transportation
projects, and recommended more than $40 million in additional
federal transit funds.
“Transportation investments
pay double dividends by creating new, good-paying jobs to restore
Oregon's economy now, and providing the infrastructure Oregon
needs to grow in the future,” said Wyden. “Better
roads, bridges and mass transit systems will get more products
to market, move more commuters to work, and entice more businesses
to locate in our state.”
“Oregon’s transportation
needs are directly linked to our economy and quality of life,”
said Smith. “These projects are essential to moving both
rural and urban Oregon forward.”
• Interstate MAX Light
Rail Project would receive $77.5 million to complete a 5.8 mile
extension of the existing 38-mile-long east/west MX rail line.
• Funds were approved
for the Wilsonville-Beaverton Commuter Rail totaling $6 million.
The funds will help construct a planned 14.7-mile commuter rail
line in Washington County.
• Senators Wyden and Smith
were also successful in securing $1.7 million for Oregon reverse
commute programs. These programs help provide expanded access
to transportation solutions for the low-income workers. These
services can include a combination of shuttles, vanpools, and
buses. Recipients of this funding would be:
- TriMet Regional Job Access
Reverse Commute Program ($1 million)
- Salem Area Transit Reverse Commute Project ($500,000)
- Rogue Valley Transportation District Job Access Reverse Commute
Program ($200,000)
• The new, relocated Springfield
Station downtown bus transfer facility would receive $5 million.
These funds will improve the efficiency of the bus system and
help to spur downtown economic development. An additional $6 million
would be provided to the Lane Transit District for bus rapid transit
expansion.
• The Bear Creek Greenway
would receive $2 million to help complete a 40-year project of
connecting five communities and seven parks. The Greenway has
become a highway for those embracing alternative nodes of transportation
while providing a linear park for families and tourists on the
weekends.
• The bill would provide
$600,000 to help replace three cracked and weight-limited bridges
on US 20 between Bend and Ontario.
Other Oregon project approvals
include:
• As much as $500,000 for the Sunrise Corridor multimodal
transportation project
• $1 million to Salem Area Transit for new buses
• $500,000 for a Tillamook County Transit maintenance facility
Oregon’s small airports
may also share a portion of nearly $12 million in Federal funds
for systems and equipment to track local air traffic.
The Transportation Appropriations bill must now be approved by
the full Senate Appropriations Committee, and then approved by
the full Senate and the House of Representatives.
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