2004 Year in Review

Manzullo Secures money for Route 30 Widening in House bill

[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today announced he has secured $1 million in the long-range federal transportation funding bill to help plan and build the Route 30 widening project from Rock Falls to Fulton.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the funding as part of the new 6-year federal highway program (TEA-LU) late Wednesday. The legislation now heads to the full House for consideration. It also must be approved by the Senate and signed by the President before the funding is released.

The funding could be used for engineering, land acquisition and/or construction of the $130 million project. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL), whose congressional districts include part of the Route 30 corridor, also support the project. It received $750,000 in federal transportation funds in 2002.

Manzullo stressed that any money Congress dedicates directly to the Route 30 widening project will be minor compared to the estimated $130 million needed to complete the project. Manzullo hopes to use the earmark to entice the state to contribute the bulk of the funding, since more than 95 percent of the federal road money in the TEA-3 legislation will go directly to states in formula grants.

"U.S. Highway 30 is an outdated, inadequate road for the people of Whiteside County. It is a safety hazard, it is congested, and it is holding back the development of the communities along the corridor. This project is a priority for the people of Whiteside County, and I will do everything I can to make sure it survives the House and Senate votes and is signed into law,” explained Manzullo.

"Congressional earmarks are seed money. More than 95 percent of the federal road funding in this bill goes directly to the states in formula grants. We must let our state officials know that this regional project has tremendous support, and that we expect a large chunk of the federal formula money to be spent on Route 30."

by  Editor, theCity1.com
March 26, 2004