MEASURE INCLUDES $16 MILLION SOUGHT BY STEARNS FOR IMPORTANT FLORIDA PROJECTS

Washington, Mar 10, 2005 - "Florida is one of the nation's fastest growing states, requiring additional resources to expand and improve its transportation systems," stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "I am pleased that H.R. 3 includes $16 million I sought for five projects that will provide new jobs, reduce congestion, enhance public safety, and expand public transportation in Florida."

The House today approved H.R. 3, the Transportation Equity Act, providing $284 billion federal highway, transit and road safety funding through 2009. Added Stearns, "Here are the facts: for every $1 billion invested in transportation, more than 47,000 new jobs are created; traffic congestion costs the average driver $1,160 a year, wasting 3.6 billion hours and 5.7 billion gallons of fuel due to delays; 42,000 Americans are killed each year on the nation's highways and 2.9 million are seriously injured. This measure means real improvements for the economy, for safety, for the quality of life, and for the environment.

The legislation authorizes funding for the following projects:

$2 million to construct roadway on an urban arterial connector in Gainesville from southern end of SW 62 Blvd. to SW 24th Ave, and SW 34th St. to SW Archer Rd.

$3 million for SunTran to purchase seven replacement buses serving Marion County.

$5 million for Phase I of linking I-95 to I-10 through Clay County with terminus points at SR 23 to CAR 739B (the Outer Beltway).

$3 million to construct a four-lane highway around Jacksonville connecting US 1 to Route 9A.

$3 million for construction of 1.2 miles of paved road over existing unpaved SE 144th Ave. in Bradford County.