Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Friday, October 24, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC Senator Kit Bond today announced that he secured more than $54 million for high priority transportation projects across the state in one of the nation's thirteen spending bills.

"My first priority is to create more good-paying jobs for Missourians. By investing in our roads, bridges and airports we make our state more attractive for businesses and that means more jobs," said Bond, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "This $54 million is the right kind of investment."

Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor. He has used his Senate Appropriations Committee position over the years to direct hundreds of millions of dollars to high priority Missouri health, housing, education, science, environmental, law enforcement, public safety and transportation projects.

The $54.65 million Bond secured are contained in the Transportation Appropriations bill. Already passed by the House, the Senate passed the bill last night. The next step is for the bill to go a House-Senate Conference and then to the President for his signature. Bond secured funds for the following projects:

* $10 million to improve statewide bus service and facilities.

* $4.5 million to improve bus service in Kansas City.

* $3.5 million to improve bus service in St. Louis.

* $6 million for Highway 19 bridge replacement in Hermann.

* $4 million for I-270 at Dorsett and I-70 interchange improvements.

* $5 million for statewide Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems.

* $5 million for US-67 improvements (with Rep. JoAnn Emerson).

* $6 million for statewide Job Access and Reverse Commute grant program.

* $2.5 million for OATS Bus, Vans and Facilities (www.oatstransit.org)

* $2 million for Springfield Regional Intelligent Transportation Service (with Rep. Roy Blunt).

* $1.2 million for St. Louis Lambert Air Traffic Control facilities.

* $1 million for Springfield rail grade reconfiguration project (with Rep. Roy Blunt).

* $1 million to improve Flintlock Road Overpass in Liberty, MO (with Sen. Jim Talent).

* $1 million for I-70/Hwy-63 interchange in Columbia (with Rep. Kenny Hulshof).

* $1 million for I-44/US-65 interchange (with Rep. Roy Blunt).

* $550,000 for St. Louis airport console replacement.

* $400,000 for Greene County bridge upgrade, bridge #1480230 (with Rep. Roy Blunt).

Also today Bond, who is Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced that an agreement was reached on the $255 billion federal highway bill. Bond expects hundreds of thousands of new jobs each year as a result of this bill, many he hopes, in the state of Missouri. Bond also pointed out that he was successful in increasing the funds for "donor" states, like Missouri. With today's agreement Missouri will receive a 95 cent return on the dollar in highway funds paid at the pump. Bond has championed increased funds for donor states since elected to the Senate. In 1986 Missouri received only 76 cents on the dollar. Bond fought to increase Missouri's share, first to 87 cents, then 90.5 and with today's agreement, 95 cents on the dollar.