WASHINGTON – The House approved a major, long-delayed transportation bill Friday morning by a vote of 412 to 8. The Senate is expected to pass the bill later today.

The bill includes a 30% increase in highway funding for Wisconsin, according to Rep. Tom Petri, a conferee and Chairman of the Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee. "The increase in spending will mean 10,000 new jobs for our state," he said.

"Wisconsin will receive an average of $711.9 million per year in highway funding due to the formula we've worked out. We will get back $1.06 for every dollar our drivers send to the Highway Trust Fund through their federal gasoline taxes," Rep. Petri said.

"Modern highways and efficient transportation are essential to maintaining America's competitive edge. They are also essential to Wisconsin's economy and quality of life," said Rep. Petri. "It has been a struggle to craft this bill and to be fair to every region, but its importance would be hard to exaggerate."

The legislation designates Highway 41 as a future interstate, to be known as I-41, and provides $72 million for improvements along the corridor, including reconstruction of the Lake Butte des Morts Bridge.

On August 10, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the long-delayed transportation bill (H.R. 3) into law. Pictured with the President are Congressman Ray LaHood, R-Ill.; Congresswoman Melissa Bean, D-Ill.; Congressman Jim Oberstar, D-Minn.; Congressman Tom Petri, R-Wis.; Senator Kit Bond, R-Mo.; Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.; Congressman Bill Thomas, R-Calif.; and Congressman Bobby Rush, D-Ill.

Sheboygan County will receive $25 million to carry out its plan for bike and pedestrian trails. Rep. Petri was successful in having the county included in a new program to demonstrate the value of nonmotorized transportation facilities. Rep. Petri said that "This is an exclusive group. Sheboygan County is joining Marin County in California, Columbia in Missouri, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in receiving these funds. The bike trails will build on the fact that Wisconsin is a good place to live and a good place to visit."

Also included are $8 million to replace the 17th Street Lift Bridge in Two Rivers, and $6 million for grade separation between railroad tracks and Pioneer Rd. in Fond du Lac. "I want to thank Sen. Herb Kohl for his help with these projects," Rep. Petri said. "I got $6 million for Two Rivers, and Sen. Kohl was able to get an additional $2 million. I was able to get $5 million for the grade separation in Fond du Lac, and Sen. Kohl was able to add $1 million."

"Congressman Petri worked tirelessly to pull this bill together and played a central role in moving it through Congress, and I am happy to have worked with him in securing federal funds for these important projects in his district," said Sen. Kohl. "By improving critical infrastructure, both of these projects will promote economic growth, ensure traffic safety and greatly reduce congestion."

Rep. Petri was able to secure a total of over $18 million for Wisconsin for the purchase of buses and the construction of intermodal facilities. The state transit formula will increase to a total of $364.8 million over four years.

The legislation also includes an initiative by Rep. Petri to crack down on fraudulent household goods movers. Currently, it is the federal government's responsibility to provide consumer protection when people have their personal property moved from one state to another.

"The Transportation Department lacks the resources to properly oversee the 1.5 million interstate moves each year, and accordingly, it can seem like the Wild West out there, with some disreputable movers - a small minority - charging far more than their quotes, and holding furniture hostage until they're paid," said Rep. Petri. "I succeeded in having provisions added which allows the states to enforce federal household goods regulations, creates new penalties, and enhances consumer information and education opportunities."

A list of projects and a summary of some of the major initiatives advanced by Rep. Petri follows:

HIGHWAYS

Statewide Highway Funding:

• HR 3 -- Wisconsin's formula highway funds will increase over 30% over TEA 21 levels. Wisconsin will receive an average of $711.9 million per year in formula highway funding. Average rate of return is 1.06
  
  
• TEA 21 (1998-2003) -- Wisconsin received average of $546 million per year in formula highway funding. Average rate of return was 1.02

Highway Projects in 6th District:

• $28 million - Construct Lake Butte des Morts Bridge, U.S. Highway 41, Winnebago County, WI
  
  
• $24 million - Expand STH 23, County Highway OJ to U.S. Highway 41, WI
  
  
• $10 million - Replace Wisconsin Street Bridge (STH 44), Oshkosh, WI
  
  
• $13 million - Reconstruct U.S. Highway 41 North of Lake Butte des Morts Bridge, WI
  
  
• $ 5 million - Pioneer Road Rail Grade Separation, Fond du Lac, WI (note: Senator Kohl added $1 million - total of $6 million)
  
  
• $ 6 million - Replace 17th Street Lift Bridge, Two Rivers, WI (note: Senator Kohl added $2 million - total of $8 million)
  
  
• $ 4 million - Recondition STH 16 from Columbus to STH 26, Dodge County, WI
  
  
• $ 4 million - Expand USH 45 between CTH G and Winchester, Winnebago County, WI
  
  
• $ 3 million - Construct U.S. Highway 151 between CTH D and STH 175, Fond du Lac County, WI
  
  
• $ 1 million - Improve Superior Avenue: Interstate 43 to State Highway 32, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
  
  
• $ 1 million - Reconstruct US Highway 41 - STH 67 interchange (Dodge County, WI)
  
  
• $ 350,000 - Construct North Shore Extension of Friendship State Trail, Calumet and Winnebago Counties, Wisconsin

U.S. Highway 41 - $30 million above formula

• Designates as future Interstate (to be called I-41) U.S. 41 between Milwaukee (near I-94 via I-894 and Hwy. 45) and Green Bay (near I-43). This means the route will be designated as an Interstate if brought up to standards within 25 years.
  
  
• Includes additional $30 million in funding from the National Corridor Infrastructure Improvement Program for improvements to U.S. Highway 41 Corridor between Milwaukee and Green Bay.

Marquette Interchange - $30 million above formula

An additional $30 million from the Projects of National and Regional Significance Program for reconstruction of Marquette Interchange is provided.

Funding from Nonmotorized Pilot Program -- Sheboygan County - $25 million

A new pilot program to provide funds to four communities for the purpose of constructing a network of nonmotorized transportation facilities (sidewalks, bicycle lanes, pedestrian and bike trails) that connect schools, recreational areas, businesses, and other community centers.

• Sheboygan County is one of the designated communities and will receive $25 million to carry out trail plan in the county (other communities are: Marin County, CA; Columbia, MO; Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN)

Intelligent Transportation Systems Funding - $9 million

• Provides $9 million over four years for the State of Wisconsin to continue ITS activities in the Gary- Chicago-Milwaukee corridor and other areas of the State.

University Transportation Centers

• Continues 10 Regional Centers, awarded competitively - one currently University of Wisconsin serves as lead (provides total of $9.25 million over 5 years).
  
  
• Designates University of Wisconsin as lead university for a "national university center" (provides total of $16 million over 5 years).

TRANSIT

Transit Funding

• Wisconsin will receive $364.794 million in transit formula dollars, from 2004-2009.
  
  
• In addition, $13.669 million was secured by Rep. Petri for Statewide bus purchases and bus facilities, and an additional $5 million is provided to the State for transit intermodal facilities. [note: other Representatives and Senators have also secured bus funds.]
  
  
• [In TEA 21 (1998-2003) Wisconsin received a total of $272.1 million in transit formula funds over six years. An average annual of $45.3 million
  
  
• Received a total of $20 million in bus and bus facilities earmarks in TEA 21 over two years.
  
  
• Average formula plus discretionary (includes TEA 21 and appropriations over the years) is $62.3 million]

Rural Transit Pilot Program - $8 million

Includes $2 million per year to State of Wisconsin to carry out a pilot program to increase transit services in underserved rural areas.

OTHER ISSUES

Household Goods

• Subtitle B of Title IV includes household goods consumer protection provisions -- fashioned after legislation Rep. Petri introduced in the 108th Congress (H.R. 1070).
  
  
• Provides for state enforcement of household goods regulations to try to increase enforcement (currently states are precluded from getting involved so you only have US DOT officials overseeing over 1.5 million interstate moves a year), creates new penalties, enhances consumer information and education opportunities and other initiatives.

Impaired Motorcyclists

Rep. Petri was instrumental in including a provision that amends National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's section 403 research and development program to designate as a priority research, training and programs relating to motorcycle safety, including impaired driving. Directs Secretary of Transportation to conduct study on educational, public information, and other activities targeted at reducing motorcycle accidents, and resulting fatalities and injuries, where the operator of the motorcycle is impaired.

Biodiesel

Wisconsin is part of 7-state pilot program to allow those States to use Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program funds for the purchase of alternative fuels or biodiesel.

Road Charge Pilot Project

Provides $12.5 million for a road user charge pilot to assess new methods of financing federal highways (in lieu of gas tax). Will include demonstration in different regions of the country in using technology to measure road usage and charge fees accordingly. A major focus is on ensuring driver privacy and determining public acceptance.