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  For Immediate Release  
  Contact: Matt Bisbee  
  Phone: (217) 403-4690 / (217) 649-1754  
March 01, 2005
 
Rep. Johnson says Transportation Projects Clear House Committee
 

Highway Bill sent to full House, funding would include several infrastructure improvements in 15th District

 

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson (IL-15) is optimistic federal funding will be included for major projects in his Downstate Illinois district with the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee's passage of a six-year, $284 billion federal highway and mass transit bill.  Rep. Johnson, a member of the T&I Committee, and his colleagues passed the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-LU) on Wednesday, March 1st, and it now moves to the full House for consideration.
 

“This important step in the legislative process emphasizes that job creation, renewed economic development, new and improved infrastructure, safety upgrades throughout Illinois' extensive highway systems, and an enhanced quality of life in numerous communities are my top priorities and they will be achieved with the long-overdue passage of this bill,” said Johnson.  “This is one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress has been considering for nearly three years, and Illinois is one step closer to obtaining federal assistance for many transportation and infrastructure projects.”  Johnson continued, "For many years, Illinois, and specifically Downstate Illinois, has not received its fair share of federal infrastructure dollars.  Our work on the Committee with Chairman Don Young, and the excellent help of Speaker Dennis Hastert, will bring desperately needed dollars in this crucial time of national economic recovery to our transportation dependent state."
 

Some of the major projects on which Rep. Johnson has closely worked, include:
 
·      Normal Multimodal Facility - Will provide a hub for bus, train and airport facilities in Downtown Normal to better serve McLean County, Illinois State University, and all of Central Illinois.  (This is a priority for both Johnson and Rep. Jerry Weller)
·      I-55 Interchange Project - This will provide long-overdue maintenance to the interchanges for McLean County communities of Lexington and Towanda.
·      Curtis Road, Champaign - The ultimate development of Curtis Road will provide new access to I-57 for Champaign/Urbana, Mahomet and Savoy.
·      Mt. Carmel Bridge - The existing bridge that crosses the Wabash River to Indiana is too small and crumbling.  The new structure will boost area commerce and spur economic development in Southeastern Illinois.
·      Winter Avenue Upgrades, Danville - This will widen Winter Avenue and construct a bridge to create a safer access point to the City’s popular northside attraction, Winter Park.
·      Mattoon Depot - The heavily used historic train depot in the heart of Mattoon badly needs renovation.
 
Several other projects in Johnson’s 15th District are likely included in the massive highway and transit bill.  Congressman Johnson is working to obtain the most possible funding for all of his priority projects.  The full House of Representatives is scheduled to consider TEA-LU before Easter; the measure would then go before a joint-committee of House and Senate Members for final consideration before President Bush can sign it.

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