Contact: Ernie Blazar 202-224-7627 Shana Stribling 224-0309
Friday, November 30, 2001

WASHINGTON - Senator Kit Bond today announced that the Senate and House have agreed on a compromise bill that includes $52 million for key highway, airport and bus projects across Missouri specifically requested by Bond himself.

“This seed money will help Missouri’s economy grow in coming years,” said Bond. “This heavy investment in Missouri means better highways that are safer to travel. We must never stop investing in Missouri’s roads, airports and buses because they are the keys to future prosperity.”

The next step is for the Senate and House to vote individually on the compromise bill before it goes to the White House for the President’s signature. The following is a list of projects totaling $52 million specifically secured by Bond for Missouri:

*$12 million for Kansas City bus and rapid transit improvements. The federal funds will also help purchase new buses and radio equipment. Average age of Kansas City Area Transit Authority large bus is 9.7 years, above national average of 8.5 years. KCATA has 113 buses over 12 years old which are growing more costly to maintain. Contact Mark Huffer, KCATA General manager, 816-346-0200.

*$11.4 million for multiple improvements to St. Louis Lambert Field International Airport, including cable loop relocation and terminal air traffic control projects. Funds will also help accommodate additional navigational aids at Lambert which is critical before opening new runway. Existing cable loop is incompatible with airport expansion and must be relocated. Contact: Colonel Leonard Griggs, 314-426-8000, Lambert Director.

*$6 million, for McDonald County, south of Neosho, Route 71 improvements. The money will help improve safety by providing funds to grade the bridges for a four-lane, divided freeway from .8 mile north of Route EE to .9 miles south of Route EE for a total length of 1.7 miles. This project is one in a series to construct a freeway on a new alignment from I-44 to the Arkansas state line.

*$5.8 million for improvements to the Lee’s Summit Airport.

*$4 million for St. Louis Bi-state Development Authority bus and bus facilities. Will help replace aging bus fleet. Funds will help buy new buses, build a training track and replace bus facilities’ roofs. Contact Bi-State Development Agency Thomas Irwin, 314-982-1588.

*$4 million, I-44, Fenton Industrial Corridor, St. Louis County. The money will help fund the first stage of a three-year implementation program for redesign and reconstruction of interchange and circulation road facilities. Funds will help mitigate area accident rate. Area experienced 803 accidents in the four years, almost 50 percent higher than the national average.

*$2.5 million, Highway-61 interchange construction, Avenue of the Saints, near Moscow Mills, Missouri. Part of the National Corridor Planning and Border Infrastructure Program to facilitate safe movement of people and goods throughout North America.

*$2 million, Columbia, Older Adults Transportation Service (OATS). This money will help the OATS non-profit service provide better transportation service to senior citizens, the disabled and other rural residents in 87 Missouri counties. Bond secured $750,000 for OATS last year. OATS: 573-443-4516 or 888-875-6287.

*$1 million, Springfield city center streetscape improvements. This money will help revitalize the center of Springfield with medians, pedestrian lighting, signs and landscaping needed to create park-like boulevards along the edge of Jordan Valley Park.

*$1.5 million secured by Bond and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) for improvements to the Kennett Memorial airport residents if the Missouri bootheel in Southeast Missouri.

*$800,000 for the Workforce Investment Board of Southeast, Missouri for job and worker retraining and reverse commute studies.

*$750,000, Missouri Soybean Association, Jefferson City. This money will help the MSA with its statewide transit demonstration with biodiesel fuel.

*$600,000 for the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri $600k for job and worker retraining and reverse commute studies.