(Washington) – Congressman Ander Crenshaw secured more than $4.5 million for local projects in Jacksonville, included in the Fiscal Year 2007 Transportation, Treasury, HUD, Judiciary and the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, which was passed by the full House today with a vote of 406-22.

 

“As Jacksonville continues to flourish, it‘s important that we ensure it’s transportation systems and programs keep pace with this growth,” said Congressman Crenshaw.  “Passage of this legislation brings this funding one step closer to being deposited in our community.”

 

Projects included in this year’s legislation include:

This funding will allow the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to continue improving services to elderly and physically and mentally challenged citizens by equipping at least 25 publicly owned handicapped accessible vehicles.  An improved communications system and automated tracking is included, which will improve efficiencies and reliability of this State of Florida Transportation disadvantaged complimentary paratransit service.  This project will also reduce the high cost of operating door-to-door services, while improving the quality and safety of this public service.

Funds will be used for the construction of access road improvements on Ft. George Island, as recommended by a federally-sponsored study conducted last year.  A traffic engineering and design study will be implemented to plan the elimination of roadway hazards to and around Ft. George Island in the Timucuan National Park.

Reconstruction of the apron area is essential to allow for reconfiguration of the concourses which, built in 1968, do not meet current airport design standards and constrain the ability of the passenger terminal to support existing and future demand.  Existing taxi lanes need to be closed and relocated.  Upon completion, the proposed improvements will greatly facilitate the flow of aircraft ground movements, expedite aircraft access to the gates and minimize overall aircraft turnaround time at the airport.

This funding will be used for the repair and replacement of deteriorated metal on the pier/fender structure and reconditioning of the standby ferry boat used by the St. Johns River Ferry Service. Portions of the pier/fender slipwall structure used by the St. Johns River Ferry to land and undock the vessel are extremely deteriorated and require replacement or repair by welding new "I" beams in place or welding double plates to existing good metal to strengthen the structure.