Boozman pushes for I-49 funding
by April 28, 2009 1:59 pm 70 views
U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, testified in support of increased funding for Interstate 49 during a Tuesday morning meeting of the Highways & Transit Subcommittee on high-priority projects for consideration in the upcoming renewal of the federal highway bill.
I-49 — which stretches from Texarkana, up through Dequeen, Mena and Waldron, into Fort Smith and on through Northwest Arkansas — would be a tremendous economic development engine for all of Arkansas. All that stands in the way of this interstate reality is several small segments at the Arkansas-Louisiana and Arkansas Missouri borders and a large 185-mile segment between Texarkana and Fort Smith that posts a price tag of around $3 billion.
The interstate project did receive a boost from the federal stimulus bill approved in early March. Arkansas officials committed to I-49 about $71.6 million of $335.83 million in federal stimulus highway money, and are teaming with Missouri highway officials to seek an additional $250 million for I-49.
Boozman noted in his testimony Tuesday that money from the stimulus package be combined with support in the federal highway bill.
But what are the realistic chances of getting the funding necessary to pull together large sections of I-49? Boozman offered this statement to The City Wire as a response: “Members of the I-49 Caucus including Representatives (Mike) Ross (D-Ark.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) are actively working together and are committed to securing funding. In this economic climate it is difficult to predict what projects will be funded or how much funding they will receive. We need to concentrate funding on projects that will benefit large areas of the country and areas that will enhance economic activity. I am optimistic that I-49 meets those standards.”
Following is the prepared testimony provided by Boozman’s office. Also, link here for the video of Boozman’s testimony.
“Thank you for allowing me to speak to you today. I am here to encourage support for a High Priority Project that runs not only through my district, but through a number of others as well.
“Once complete from New Orleans to Kansas City, I-49 will provide a continuous trade highway from Canada through the Midwest and New Orleans to Latin America.
“Major portions of the route are already constructed (in Louisiana from Lafayette to Shreveport, as well as other sections in Arkansas and Missouri).
“Environmental work has been completed (Environmental Impact Statements) for all major unfinished sections of the roadway. Records of Decision for these sections have been signed by the Federal Highway Administration. Construction funding is the only remaining obstacle to the completion of the Interstate.
“Construction and completion of I-49 will support the creation of up to 206,290 new jobs.
“Once complete, I-49 will provide more than $817 million in annual savings to the nation’s economy by reducing travel time, transportation costs and congestion. Over six years these savings will total over $4.9 billion or more.
“I-49 is a nationally significant freight distribution and Intermodal corridor that will service the deep-water ports of South Louisiana, New Orleans, Houston, Beaumont (four of the top five ports in the nation by tonnage), the great lakes ports of Duluth-Superior, Chicago, Gary and Milwaukee, and one of the nations most important freight distribution hubs — Kansas City.
“The I-49 corridor bisects a 420 mile north-south gap in what is potentially one of the most agriculturally and industrially productive regions of our country between I-55 to the East and I-35 to the West.
“Once complete, the I-49/I-29/I-35 corridor will intersect with nine other east-west Interstate highways including I-94, I-190, I-80, I-70, I-44, I-40, I-30, I-20 and I-10. With existing rail facilities along the corridor including BNSF, KCS (now NAFTA Rail) and Union Pacific, completion of I-49 will spur the creation and expansion of major Intermodal facilities from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
“As in the past, Congressman Mike Ross and I are encouraging the I-49 Caucus to express its support to you as well. This caucus is made of Members whose districts encompass I-49, as well as I-29, and I-35.
“Without the funding to complete the remaining portions of I-49, we are preventing the movement of freight, the creation of jobs, and the completion of a much needed and major north-south corridor.
“I ask the Committee, as you review High Priority Projects, to please give your utmost consideration to the completion of I-49 and provide the funding necessary for this important corridor to be completed.
“Thank you again for your time.”