Originally published August 6 2005
Senate passes transportation act with some funding going to wildlife
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Senate has passed a new bill that, over six years, will not only gives funding to develop new roadways and mass transit; it also calls for wildlife preservation in transportation planning.
A $286.4 billion transportation bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on Saturday, enacting a measure that covers six years of funding for federal highways and transit programs, as well as highway safety and motor carrier safety programs.
Environmentalists called SAFETEA-LU a mixed bag, but applauded positive advances such as a provision that includes wildlife conservation in transportation planning, a measure to improve the transport of hazardous materials, funding for the Clean School Bus program, and billions in funding to reduce air pollution from construction equipment.
highway The Interstate 15 Highway at rush hour in San Diego, California (Photo courtesy San Diego County) SAFETEA-LU increases funding for constructing and improving highways by 30 percent over the previous law, TEA 21, and increases transit funding, said Congressman Don Young, an Alaska Republican who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and also served as chairman of the House-Senate Conference on the highway and transit funding legislation.
"During this reauthorization effort, I have traveled to cities across the nation and have met with governors, mayors, business interests and others, and saw first hand the many critical and necessary infrastructure projects that we as a nation need to complete," Petri said, calling the bill "a step forward in helping us meet those needs."
"This legislation has enormous potential to reduce pollution, create manufacturing jobs, and help the small businesses that build our roads and highways," said Senator Clinton.
In another transportation measure passed Friday, the Transit in Parks Act authorizes approximately $24 million annually for six years to develop new and expanded mass transit services, pedestrian walkways, and bike paths within and near the national parks and other public lands.
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