Washington, D.C. – After several years of partisan battles, the United States Congress has approved a comprehensive highway bill, creating thousands of jobs across Wyoming and ensuring that our highways remain safe. The highway bill reauthorization agreed to by a conference committee of the House and Senate was approved by the House by a vote of 412-8. The Senate later passed the measure, 91-4. Wyoming’s Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, and Rep. Barbara Cubin (all R-Wyo) voted in favor of final passage.

“This bill is about the creation of jobs. The more jobs we can create, the better the infrastructure, and the more sound the quality of life we’ll have for folks from Barnum to Baggs. While this bill is important for jobs, it is equally important to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) so they can set their plans for future projects. This is a good day for Wyoming highways and roads,” Thomas said.

“For the last several years, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Wyoming contractors, and all those who drive on our roads have waited anxiously for the authorization of new funding for necessary improvements to our roads. The wait is almost over. Now plans can be made years in advance to ensure that Wyoming towns have the fewest interruptions on their roads while improvements are being made,” said Enzi. “Funding formula changes in this bill also recognize the unique transportation situations faced by rural states, especially Wyoming with all of our national parks and forests that attract travelers from around the world.”

"This is a big win for the people of Wyoming," said Cubin. "Wyoming historically has gotten back more than $1.30 for every dollar we paid in and this bill preserves that. Transportation spending is an investment in our future and I'm pleased with how this bill turned out for the people of Wyoming. In a rural state like Wyoming, being able to get from one side of the state to the other is crucial for economic development. This bill will provide the resources we need to keep Wyoming moving into the future."

Under the reconciled conference report, Wyoming will receive about $1.24 billion in highway funding for the five year period, Fiscal Years 2005 – 2009. Senators Thomas and Enzi and Rep. Cubin were able to secure $102 million for the projects to which WYDOT gave top priority. The Wyoming delegation also helped ensure that the formula used to allocate funding to states directed the highest amount of funding possible to rural states like Wyoming.

The Wyoming projects that will be funded by the legislation include:

• $4.3 million Recreational Trails Program FY 05-09

• Parks Roads Program (PRP) $310 million in FY 2005 and $320 million in FY 2006 through 2009

• $25 million for the reconstruction of Togwotee Pass between Dubois and Moran Junction

• $11.6 million for the reconstruction of WY Highway 59

• $30 million for the Western Research Institute asphalt research consortium

• $6.6 million for the extension of Burma Road and Burma Road Overpass in Gillette

• $22.6 million for the Casper West Belt Loop

• $20.52 million for improvements to I-80 near Rock Springs

• $6.6 million for U.S. 85 passing lanes

• $5 million for improvements to I-25 between Kaycee and Buffalo

• $4 million for I-25 / Hwy 220 connector in Casper

• $880,000 for Main Street renovations in Riverton

The members of the Wyoming Congressional delegation were also pleased that included in the bill was a designation of the Heartland Expressway along Highway 26 from the Wyoming Nebraska border to I-25. This designation will allow the highway to receive improvement funds as a route for commerce and trucking. This designation has been strongly supported by the City of Torrington and the State of Wyoming.

Additionally, Senator Thomas was also able to insert language for trucks which exempts tractors weighing 19,500 pounds or less from the heavy vehicle tax if the gross combined weight of the tractor and a towed vehicle does not exceed 33,000 pounds. Thomas said, “People who are just hauling a bull or taking their boat to a lake shouldn’t have to pay an excise tax.”

Senator Enzi, as a member of the Senate Banking Housing and Urban Affairs Committee which drafted the transit portion of the bill, was able to secure $3 million for Wyoming statewide bus and bus-related facilities. Additionally, the Banking Committee was able to improve the formula under which transit funds are allocated to address low population area transit needs.

During consideration of the bill, which has been ongoing since last year, Rep. Cubin led a group of western House members who were concerned that rural states wouldn't be treated fairly. This western coalition of members was able to make sure that Wyoming's transit funding will double from what it was under the last highway bill, enacted more than six years ago.

The legislation will now go to President Bush, who is expected to sign the bill into law.