July 24, 2008
 
House Passes Critical Highway Funding; Saves 4,154 WV Jobs
 
Special to Huntingtontonnews.net
 
Washington, DC (HNN) – U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-WV helped pass H.R. 6532, the Highway Trust Fund Restoration Act, which provides an $8.017 billion infusion of funds to address a projected shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund and continue critical highway projects.
 
“The infusion of funds provided by this bill will allow work to continue on the I-73/74 Corridor, Route 10, the Coalfields Expressway, the New River Parkway, and the Shawnee Parkway as authorized in the 2005 Transportation Bill, which I helped to craft,” said Rahall. “Continued updating and maintenance of our highway system is needed to provide safe, efficient transportation, to strengthen America’s economy, and meet West Virginia’s infrastructure needs.”
 
In 2005, Congressman Rahall was instrumental in winning Congressional passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which authorized $41.2 billion for Federal-aid highways and $10.34 billion for public transportation in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. This new bill will provide $8.017 billion to shore up a projected shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund for FY 2009 and help to achieve the funding levels for highways and public transportation authorized by SAFETEA-LU in 2005.
 
According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), failing to enact this bill could lead to a devastating $14 billion, or 34 percent, reduction in federal highway investment in FY 2009. Without this bill, West Virginia would stand to lose nearly $120 million in highway funds and an estimated 4,154 transportation related jobs.
 
“Construction of safer, more modern highways continues to be one of the greatest needs or our region and one of my highest priorities in Congress,” said Rahall. “As part of my Three Ts Agenda, I have been a long-time advocate of highway infrastructure investment to open up new economic avenues. I will continue to work to ensure full funding of our highway system, which is so important to West Virginia’s economic outlook.”