Washington, D.C. - The Senate put its stamp on a transportation spending plan today that will help Wyoming meet its transportation priorities for Fiscal Year 2004, U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi (Both R-Wyo.) reported. The Senate passed the Treasury/Transportation Appropriations bill late Thursday by a vote of 91-3.
"Wyoming is a state that depends on safe highways to provide jobs and keeps our commerce flowing. I have worked hard over the past year to secure adequate funding to ensure that our state's transportation needs are met. As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I am especially pleased that we have continued funding our nation's transportation system through program I helped author in 1998," Thomas said.
"This funding helps keep the state moving at full speed. Wyoming is a big state and the U.S. is a big country. Communication and transportation are what hold us together. This bill should help improve and keep our transportation systems healthy," Enzi said.
Among Wyoming priorities Thomas and Enzi helped secure the following spending measures:
• $211.79 million in Highway funding, which represents a $28 million increase over last year.
• $102 million (plus carryover funds) for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. This funding will guarantee that Wyoming's three EAS communities (Laramie, Rock Springs, and Worland) will continue receiving air service.
• $20 million for the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program.
• $5.6 million in funding for Wyoming's bus transit program.
• One year extension for the construction of the Cheyenne Bus facility.
• $3.5 million for the Seminoe Dam Road project.
• $5 million for statewide dynamic message signs to improve highway safety.
• $500,000 for the joint Wyoming/Montana port of entry north of Sheridan.
The Senators also pointed to the funding of two key projects in Wyoming. The Western Research Institute (WRI), located in Laramie, has been conducting research into the fundamental properties of asphalt with the goal of finding better compositions to make our roads and highways last longer. WRI's current contract is slated to expire on January 19, 2004. The legislation would guarantee WRI would continue to receive its funding, which would total an additional one million dollars.
Senator Thomas was also the sponsor of an amendment that would instruct the Federal Aviation Administration to provide priority consideration for placing a radar unit at the Jackson Hole Airport. The radar would significantly increase the safety of incoming aircraft to Jackson. Thomas' amendment would bring in over ten million dollars to use for the construction of the radar. Jackson is Wyoming's busiest commercial airport and accounts for roughly 60 percent of the state's total air traffic.
The bill now moves to a conference committee to be reconciled with the version passed by the House of Representatives.
