Transportation Chairman Unveils National Bridge Funding Proposal

[babylonsister]

http://public.cq.com/docs/cqm/cqmidday110-000002569807.html

Transportation Chairman Unveils National Bridge Funding Proposal

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will take up legislation in September to create a dedicated funding source for the repair and replacement of structurally impaired bridges nationwide.

The proposal, which Minnesota Democrat James L. Oberstar announced Wednesday, is the latest in a series of congressional initiatives offered in response to the Aug. 1 collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis.

Oberstar, chairman of the panel, plans to introduce the bill after Congress returns to work Sept. 4. His plan would create a new source of revenue for upgrade work on bridges in the National Highway System, which includes Interstates and other major highways.

The Department of Transportation has rated more than 70,000 bridges “structurally deficient,” which has sparked concern in the wake of the Minnesota tragedy.

“We react to tragedy when lives are lost, but we fail to take pre-emptive action that could prevent these tragic events,” Oberstar said.

The bill would require the Federal Highway Administration to distribute funds by a formula based on public safety and need. It would bar earmarks for specific projects.

In addition, the bill would direct an update of national bridge inspection standards and require state governments to immediately inspect structurally deficient bridges.

John L. Mica of Florida, the ranking Republican on the committee, called the plan “a Band-aid approach to a critical national transportation infrastructure problem.”

[Fresh_Start]

1. Maybe they should do Levees on the same bill

after all roads under water don't work any better than roads falling into the water