Highways and Infrastructure

On August 10, 2005, President Bush signed into law the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA). This act reauthorizes federal surface transportation programs through the end of Fiscal Year 2009. SAFETEA provides $286 billion for highway projects and transit facilities over the next six years, with the funding generated by the existing 18 cent per gallon federal gasoline surcharge. Included in SAFETEA is a formula that provides each state a certain level of federal assistance for its roads. Idaho's formula level provides it with $276 million in guaranteed funding per year, an increase over the previous level of $212.3 million per year. This change was a result of Idaho's unique position as a rural state, which allowed it to qualify for additional funding, a provision that I helped to negotiate during previous consideration of SAFETEA as a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in the 108th Congress.

In addition, I, in working with the other members of the Idaho Congressional delegation, was able to secure $146.2 million in funding for high-priority projects in Idaho. These projects are vital to improving the infrastructure of our rapidly-growing state.

Get the facts about SAFETEA from a Congressional Research Service Report here.