MonticelloLive

Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2009, containing more than $13 million in transportation and economic priorities for Arkansas. The annual spending bill funds the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The full Senate is expected to vote on the legislation later this year.
 
“Transportation infrastructure is vital to economic development efforts in Arkansas,” said Lincoln.  “These funds will help ensure that our state receives federal support that will compliment local efforts to create and sustain growth.”
 
“Expansion and modernization of our highways and interchanges is essential for continued economic growth within our state,” said Pryor.  “Each of these projects is critically important to their surrounding communities. I will do everything I can to keep this funding intact through the legislative process.”
 
The following is a list of priorities for Arkansas contained in this year’s Transportation-HUD appropriations bill:
 
$3 million for Interstate 69/Great River Bridge: Highway 65-MS Highway 1 (South Arkansas). Funds will be used to continue engineering, design and right-of-way acquisition for the Interstate 69/Great River Bridge.  This bridge will be a portion of a new four-lane, controlled-access highway.
 
$5 million for Interstate 430/630 (Little Rock): Interchange Modification. Planned improvements will modernize a 25- to 30-year-old cloverleaf interchange between two major urban interstates to eliminate severe congestion during peak travel periods. 
 
$2 million for I-555 Access Road, Poinsett County. This funding will create an access road along the highway from Marked Tree to Payneway, which will provide an artery for agriculture and local transportation to the St. Francis River floodway.
 
$2 million for I-540 Interchange Improvements in Washington and Benton Counties. Funds will be used to make interim improvements at 17 I-540 interchanges that are located in Washington and Benton Counties. 
 
$1 million for Garrison Avenue Streetscaping in Fort Smith. Garrison Avenue is the primary entrance into Fort Smith and this streetscaping will complete the entryway extending from the Garrison Avenue Bridge to 13th Street.  The city has already constructed or has under design streetscaping along Garrison Avenue between 2nd and 8th Street. 
 
$400,000 for Winrock International’s Regional Entrepreneur Assistance Program. These funds will help Winrock International provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs with new innovations in Arkansas.