Pryor: Rodell Mollineau (202) 224-2353
Lincoln: Drew Goesl (202) 224-4843
Berry: Lillian Pace (202) 225-4076
Snyder: Jennifer Oglesby (501 ) 324-5943
Boozman: Patrick Creamer (202) 225-4301
Ross: Rachel Kleinman (202) 225-0753
July 29, 2005
Press Release
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Congressional Delegation Secures $2.3 Billion for Arkansas Transportation Projects
WASHINGTON - Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche
Lincoln, along with Congressmen Marion Berry (AR-01), Vic Snyder
(AR-02), John Boozman (AR-03) and Mike Ross (AR-04), today announced
Arkansas will receive $2.3 billion over the next 5 fiscal years,
or $476.4 million annually, from the Transportation Reauthorization
Bill to help address critical highway and transportation needs throughout
the state. The bill passed the House of Representatives Friday, and
is expected to pass the Senate before the end of the week.
Members of the Congressional delegation said the $286 billion transportation
highway bill will help address critical infrastructure needs that
are not currently being met, spur economic development and create
jobs, increase safety and anticipate future highway needs. According
to the United States Department of Transportation, every $1 billion
investment in our highways results in 47,500 jobs annually.
"This bill will allow significant investment and progress to
be made on our roads and highways in every pocket of the state," Pryor
said. "It will pay off in dividends for our economy and quality
of life in Arkansas."
"This bill is desperately needed by our communities in Arkansas
because when we invest in highway and infrastructure projects, we
create jobs," Lincoln said. "The projects this bill will
fund are long overdue and are vital to our state's economy and the
well-being of the entire region."
"After close to three years of debate, I am pleased to see
Congress finally come to an agreement on a highway bill," Berry
said. "Our delegation stuck together through it all and secured
significant investments for our state. I am excited about this news
and am confident that these projects will help Arkansas make long
overdue improvements to our transportation system."
"Funding for transportation and infrastructure is very good
news for the safety and convenience of Arkansans driving on our highways," said
Snyder.
"The Third District of Arkansas is one of the fastest growing
regions in the country, which is why, as a Highway Bill conferee,
I worked hard to ensure that our projects were well-funded. I am
pleased that this bill is on its way to the President's desk so we
can give Arkansas' infrastructure budget a much-needed shot in the
arm," said Boozman.
"After eleven extensions of the Transportation Reauthorization
Bill since October 2003, we have passed a long overdue roadmap for
transportation funding in America," said Ross. "This funding
will go a long way in meeting Arkansas's extensive road needs. As
an economic ambassador for Arkansas, I am proud to have helped secure
the funding throughout the course of the lengthy transportation reauthorization
process. This funding will be used to create new highways and roads,
repair dilapidated infrastructure and create jobs and economic opportunities
for the future."
Delegation members were able to secure specific funding for the
following projects:
1st District
| $13 million |
Northeast Arkansas Connector (relocation of Highway
226) in Jonesboro - designated as a high priority corridor |
| $9 million |
Caraway Bridge Overpass in Jonesboro |
| $5.4 million |
I-40/Highway 89 Interchange Planning and Construction in Lonoke |
| $3.8 million |
Highway 77 Rail Grade Separation in Marion |
| $3.6 million |
Highway 165 Railroad Overpass in Stuttgart |
| $2.6 million |
Highway 412 from Baxter County to Ash Flat |
| $1 million |
Highway 412: Paragould South Bypass |
2nd District
| $15 million |
Interstate 430/630 Interchange Modification in
Little Rock |
| $6.96 million |
Rehabilitating and widening Highway 67 from four to six lanes
from Kiehl Avenue to Vandenberg Blvd in Jacksonville, AR. |
| $2.4 million |
Western Loop in Conway for engineering, rights-of-way, relocations,
and continued planning and design |
| $2.3 million |
Interchange in Maumelle |
| $8 million |
Rail grade separations identified by the MPO for the Little
Rock/North Little Rock metro area, which may include Edison Avenue,
Springer Boulevard, Highway 89 extension; McCain/Fairfax; Salem
Road |
| $1.2 million |
Interstates 30/440/530 Interchanges for interchange improvements
in Little Rock |
| $1.2 million |
Highway 65 improvements in Van Buren County, including construction
of passing lanes, bridge improvements, intersection improvements
and other roadway improvements |
| $160,000 |
Take it to the Edge River Trail: Construction of an 11 mile
pedestrian and bicycle trail extending from the Clinton Presidential
Library in East Little Rock along the Arkansas River to Pinnacle
Mountain State Park at the western end of the city limits |
| $2.75 million |
Central Arkansas Transit Authority Facility Upgrades |
3rd District
| $8.372 million |
Construct new interchange on I-540 near the existing
Perry Road overpass Rogers, AR |
| $7 million |
Construction of I-49, Highway 71: Highway 22 to Highway 71
near Jenny Lind, Fort Smith, AR |
| $7.2 million |
Improvements to Jenny Lind Rd. and Ingersoll, Fort Smith |
| $3.6 million |
Widen and reconstruct Rena Road, Van Buren, Arkansas |
| $2.4 million |
Russellville Intermodal Facility construct access roads from
AR Hwy 247, purchase Right-of-Way |
| $16 million |
Improvements to Johnson Road. From Hwy 412 to I-540 through
Springdale and Johnson, Springdale, AR |
| $9 million |
Construct and rehabilitate Fayetteville Expressway Economic
Development Corridor |
| $3.2 million |
Construct and rehabilitate University of Arkansas Technology
Corridor Enhancement Project |
| $6.5 million |
Improvements to US 412 in Northwest Arkansas |
| $1.42 million |
Widen and improve I-540 and SH-102 Interchange, Bentonville |
| $37 million |
Construction of I-49, Highway 71: Arkansas portion of Bella
Vista Bypass |
| $1.5 million |
Widen AR Hwy 102 between US 71B and west city limits Bentonville |
| $640,000 |
War Eagle Bridge Rehabilitation, Benton County |
| $800,000 |
Replace and rebuild Tilly Willy Bridge, Washington Co. |
| $33,440 |
Trolley Barn, Harrison |
| $35 million |
Study and Construction of 8th St. in Bentonville from I-540
to SW Elm Tree Rd. |
In addition to the earmarks, the conference report included language
to name the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center at the University
of Arkansas, Fayetteville as a University Transportation Center,
guaranteeing it continued funding for the life of the bill.
4th District
| $10 million |
East-West Arterial: Highway 70 to Highways 5/7,
Hot Springs, AR |
| $6.56 million |
Improve State Highway 88 (Higdon Ferry Road) in Hot Springs,
Arkansas |
| $3.168 million |
Develop a railroad overpass connecting U.S. Highway 67 and
U.S. Highway 371, Prescott, AR |
| $2 million |
Widening of Highway 65/82: Pine Bluff-Greenville Bridge |
| $2 million |
Highway 167: Fordyce to Sheridan Bypass, AR |
| $5 million |
Widen to four lanes, improvement, and other development to
US Hwy 167 from LA state line north |
| $3 million |
Develop U.S. Highway 71 (I-49) to Interstate standards on new
location between Mena, AR and LA state line |
| $3.2 million |
Widen to five lanes, improvement and other development to US
Hwy 79B/University Ave. in Pine Bluff |
| $1.672 million |
Wilmar Development of SE AR Intermodal Facility |
| $72 million |
Construction of I-530 between Pine Bluff and Wilmar |
| $75 million |
I-69 Corridor, including the Great River Bridge |
| $50 million |
Planning, design, and construction of I-69 in Texas, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana (funding
will be divided among the seven states). |
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