House Approves Reauthorization Bill

Platts secures $45 million for highway, transit and rail projects in the 19th District

Washington, D.C.-The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (H.R. 3550), which reauthorizes the federal surface transportation program through FY2009.

H.R. 3550 would provide $275 billion for highway construction, highway safety, transit, bridge, motor carrier, and surface transportation research programs over the next six years.  The current six-year authorization, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), expired in September 2003 and has been temporarily extended while Congress debates the proper level of funding.

Congressman Todd R. Platts (PA-19), a member of the House Transportation Committee, has secured $45 million in H.R. 3550 to specifically address critical transportation infrastructure needs in Adams, Cumberland and York counties.

"Dramatic population growth throughout the 19th Congressional District demands an enhanced, modern transportation system.  Investment in our transportation infrastructure will spur economic growth, reduce congestion, and improve highway safety for all 19th District residents," Platts said.  "In seeking election to Congress in 2000, I pledged to do my utmost to ensure that the 19th District received its fair and necessary share of federal transportation dollars.  I am thus very pleased by the inclusion of $45 million in H.R. 3550 for 19th District projects."

Over the past year, Congressman Platts worked with state and local officials in each county within the 19th District to achieve consensus on the most critical transportation needs facing those communities.  The funding allocation for 19th District projects was determined on a per capita basis by county.  The 19th District projects targeted for funding in H.R. 3550 are as follows:

Adams County ($6.399 million)

• U.S. 15 and 30 - Design, construct and upgrade interchange ($4.0 million)
• PA Route 94 North - Widen from the Adams/York County line north to Appler Road in Adams County ($1.5 million)
• Gettysburg Transit System - Design and construct transit transfer center in Gettysburg ($899,000)

Cumberland County ($11.83 million)

• Mechanicsburg Signalization - Replace traffic signals and optimize signal timing devices ($1.2 million)
• New Kingston - Design and construct the relocation of U.S. 11 northbound ($5.68 million)
• PA Route 34/174 - Design and construct additional turn lanes, signal upgrades and other improvements at Routes 34 and 174 intersection ($580,000)
• I-81, Exit 44 - Design and construct improvements to the I-81/Route 465 interchange and on Route 465 ($3.87 million)
• Shippensburg Loop - Design and construct inner loop roadway around Shippensburg, PA ($500,000)

York County ($26.77 million)

• I-83, Exit 18 - Design and construct interchange and related improvements at I-83, Exit 18 ($6.0 million)
• I-83, Exit 19 - Design and construct interchange improvements including sound barriers at I-83, Exit 19 ($6.0 million)
• I-83, Exit 4 - Design and construct interchange and related improvements at I-83, Exit 4 ($3.5 million)
• PA Route 94 North - Design and construct widening of Route 94 from the York/Adams County line to Elm Street in Hanover, PA ($3.0 million)
• Rabbittransit - Construct and upgrade transit hubs and acquire and install communications equipment in York, PA ($2.77 million)
• PA Routes 24 & 124 - Design and construct intersection and related upgrades on PA Routes 24 and 124 ($1.0 million)
• Cool Creek Road - Construct the realignment of Cool Creek Road ($1.0 million)
• Intermodal Facility - Design and construct access to intermodal rail facility in York County, PA ($2.0 million)
• City of York - Improvements related to the Northwest Triangle Project ($1.5 million)

H.R. 3550 now moves into conference committee with the Senate's transportation reauthorization bill (S. 1072).  Congressman Platts will work diligently to make ensure that the above-identified transportation projects are retained in the final legislation.