Members of the Arkansas congressional delegation announcing these priorities contained in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008, include U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln (D) and Mark Pryor (D) and Representatives Marion Berry (D-1st), Vic Snyder (D-2nd), and Mike Ross (D-4th).

The annual spending bill funds the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The bill passed the House late Wednesday.

“Transportation infrastructure is vital to economic development efforts in Arkansas,” said Lincoln.  “I am proud Arkansas will receive its fair share of federal investments that will compliment local efforts to create and sustain growth across our state.”

"These investments in our roads and infrastructure are greatly needed and will make a real difference in our daily lives. As a result, we can count on safer roads, shorter commute time and economic development throughout the state.  I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in the House and Senate to secure this funding,” said Pryor.

"Projects like the overpasses in Stuttgart, Marion and Caraway, the I-555 Access Road, and the two centers for ASU are essential to economic growth and development of the region," said Congressman Berry.  "By strengthening our transportation and community-based infrastructure, we are continuing to lay the foundation for growth in Arkansas.  I look forward to seeing these projects to their completion and will do everything I can to continue to work to improve infrastructure throughout the region."

“This funding will help improve our transportation and infrastructure in central Arkansas,” said Congressman Vic Snyder.

“It is time to begin investing in America’s infrastructure and economy again, and I am proud to have helped secure this vital funding to spur commerce throughout Arkansas,” Ross said. “These worthwhile projects are critical to creating jobs and numerous economic development opportunities across Arkansas which will enrich our communities and provide much-needed updates in our nation’s deteriorating infrastructure.”

The following is a list of transportation priorities for Arkansas contained in this year’s Transportation-HUD appropriations bill:

$2.68 Million for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport - Funding will be used for the construction of a second landing surface.  The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is the busiest commercial service airport in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Southwest Region.

$670,000 for the Northwest Arkansas Western Beltway - The Western Beltway project was recommended by elected officials in Northwest Arkansas during the Long Range Transportation Planning process to provide an alternative to Interstate 540.  Funding will be used for the necessary Draft Environmental Impact Study.

$670,000 for the Texarkana Regional Airport - Funding will be used for the construction of a new Aircraft Firefighting and Rescue station.

$3.35 Million for the State of Arkansas, Bus and Bus Facilities for Urban, Rural, and Elderly & Disabled Agencies - Funding will be used for buses and bus facilities for Arkansas’s small urban and rural transit systems.  In addition, funding will help secure vans and small buses for Arkansas’s 250 community service organizations serving the elderly and persons with disabilities.

$2.68 Million for the Interstate 69/Great River Bridge: Highway 65-MS Highway 1 (South Arkansas).

$1.84 Million for the Caraway Bridge Overpass Completion (Jonesboro) - The overpass will be built over two local railroads to alleviate vehicle and rail traffic conflicts.

$3.18 Million for the Interstate 430/630 Interchange (Little Rock).

$400,000 for an Instrument Landing System at the Saline County Airport.

$500,000 for the Bella Vista Bypass.

$500,000 for the Highway 165 Overpass - This funding will provide a four-lane overpass at the Highway 165 crossing of the Union Pacific Railroad main line in Stuttgart.

$500,000 for Highway 77 Rail Grade Separation (Marion) - The project will provide a grade separation crossing over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. 

$1 Million for Highway 71/Future Interstate 49 Development and Construction (Doddridge).

$1 Million for the I-555 Access Road (Poinsett County) - This funding will create an access road along the highway from Marked Tree, Arkansas, to Payneway, Arkansas, which will provide an artery for agriculture and local transportation to the St. Francis River floodway.

The following is a list of economic development priorities for Arkansas contained in the bill:

$402,000 for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Completion of UAPB Business Support Incubator - This funding will assist the Economic Research and Development Center in completing Phase II of the Business Support Incubator project.  The Business Support Incubator is a 16,000 square-foot building in downtown Pine Bluff that houses offices for the Economic Research and Development Center, ten tenant offices, a multi-purpose training room, and a large executive-style conference room.

$200,000 for Development of the Little Rock Audubon Center - This continuation of funding, initially provided to the city of Little Rock in 2005, will support Phase II development of the Little Rock Audubon Center located in the Granite Mountain Community in Southeast Little Rock.  Phase II will include construction of wildlife observation stations and five miles of trails, improvements to an existing outdoor pavilion, construction of a storage facility, and construction of bathroom facilities.

$670,000 for the City of Fayetteville Attainable Housing Partnership - The city of Fayetteville has taken the lead in developing a program in partnership with local developers to provide attainable workforce housing.  The program would create a sustainable revolving infrastructure fund that would allow teachers, firefighters, police officers, and others a homeownership opportunity.

$250,000 for ASU-Mountain Home – The funding will be used for the construction of the multipurpose Veda Sheid Center, which will host a variety of community focused outreach programs.

$350,000 for ASU-Newport for the Regional Transportation Technology Center - The funding will be used to help build a Commercial Driver Training Program facility at ASU Newport. The facility will help the transportation industry meet the growing demand for qualified motor carrier operators and to provide additional safety training to drivers.

$150,000 for Conway County – The funding will be used for the renovation of the historic Morrilton Post Office.

$50,000 for the Renovation of the Quapaw Community Center (Hot Springs).

$200,000 for the Peace at Home Family Shelter (Fayetteville).