Cochran Supports Passage of FY2010 Transportation, HUD Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran today voted for Senate passage
of an appropriations bill that would direct specific federal funding to
Mississippi to support transportation and community development projects
throughout the state.
The Senate today voted 73-25 to approve the FY2010 Transportation, Housing
and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Bill
(HR.3288). The bill will now be referred to a joint conference committee to
reconcile differences in the House and Senate-passed versions of the bill.
Cochran will serve on the THUD conference committee.
Cochran, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee,
noted that the measure includes $26.4 million for highway and road projects
in Mississippi, as well as $2.5 million for transit systems, and $7.5
million for airport improvements in Mississippi. The bill also contains HUD
Economic Development Initiative (EDI) resources to support community
improvements projects across the state.
“I am pleased the Senate has passed the Transportation, HUD Appropriations
Bill, which brings it a step closer to eventually becoming law,” Cochran
said. “The bill approved by the Senate would provide Mississippi
communities with an infusion of federal support for public infrastructure
and community improvement projects.”
The THUD bill funds such agencies as the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Transit Agency, and a
series of HUD economic development programs. It also continues ongoing
support for major programs like the Community Development Block Grant.
The overall bill provides $175 million for the Essential Air
Service Program which supports commercial air service to small and rural
communities such as Meridian, Hattiesburg and Greenville.
The measure also makes $17.5 million available through the Maritime
Administration for the Assistance to Small Shipyards Program, which has
previously benefited shipyards in Jackson County.
Cochran supported the following funding items for Mississippi in
the Senate-passed FY2010 THUD Appropriations Bill:
Federal Highway Administration
. East Metropolitan Corridor, Rankin County — $2.0 million toward a
five-mile corridor linking Interstate 20 and Lakeland Drive
. Urban Collector Road, Jackson County — $2.0 million toward a road
on the north side of Interstate 10 between State Route 609 and Highway 15
. State Route 24/48, Amite and Pike Counties — $1.9 million to the
Mississippi Department of Transportation to expand Scenic Route 24/48 from
east Liberty to Interstate 55
. Byram-Clinton/Norrell Parkway, Hinds County — $1.5 million toward
a 15-mile, multilane arterial roadway between Byram and the Norrell
interchange with Interstate 20
. Choctaw Lake-Bluff Lake Route, Winston County — $1.5 million
toward renovation of Choctaw Lake-Bluff Lake route
. Gluckstadt Road and Interchange, Madison County — $1.5 million
toward a widening and extension project and interchange construction at
Bozeman Road
. Holly Springs Road, DeSoto County — $1.5 million toward the repair
of a one-mile segment over the Coldwater River and tributaries
. Lake Harbour Drive, Ridgeland — $1.5 million for preconstruction
and right-of-way acquisition
. Reunion Interchange, Madison County — $1.5 million toward
construction of an Interstate 55 interchange to the proposed east-west
Reunion Parkway
. Statesman Boulevard and Trail, Delta State University-Cleveland —
$1.5 million to complete the Statesman Boulevard and Trail
. Tupelo Thoroughfare Northern Loop, Tupelo — $1.5 million toward a
road and bridge to serve as a connector for two major highways
. West County Line Road, Jackson — $1.5 million toward extending and
widening
. Jonestown Bypass, Coahoma County — $1.25 million toward the
construction of a one-mile road around Jonestown connecting with Highway 316
. Capitol Street Renovation Project, Jackson — $1.15 million to
improve infrastructure and streetscape
. Artesia Road Bypass, Lowndes County — $1.0 million toward an
access to Alternate Highway 45
. Defense Access Road, West Point — $1.0 million to improve access
to a defense manufacturing facility
. Interstate 55 Interchange Lighting, Senatobia — $600,000 to
install additional lighting at the south Senatobia Interstate 55 interchange
. Anchor Lake Interchange and Service Road, Pearl River County —
$500,000 toward constructing a new interchange and service road
. Hattiesburg Longleaf Trace Rails to Trails — $500,000 toward
progress on a 41-mile trail from Prentiss to the downtown Hattiesburg Train
Depot
. Old Taylor Road Roundabouts, Oxford — $500,000 to construct
roundabouts
. Oktibbeha County Southern Bypass, Oktibbeha County — $500,000
toward a bypass connecting the Lowndes Artesia Road Bypass to Oktibbeha
County’s Artesia Road
Federal Transit Administration
. Harrison County Multimodal, Coast Transit Authority — $2.0 million
toward construction of two public transportation multimodal centers
. JATRAN Fleet Replacement, Jackson — $500,000 toward replacing
aging buses
Federal Aviation Administration
. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Gulfport — $2.5 million for
runway and taxiway improvements
. Jackson-Evers International Airport, Jackson — $2.0 million toward
airfield infrastructure improvements
. Golden Triangle Regional Airport, Lowndes County — $2.0 million
toward runway extension and taxiway improvements
. Mid-Delta Regional Airport, Greenville — $1.0 million toward
airfield infrastructure and runway improvements
HUD Economic Development Initiative
. Calhoun County Courthouse, Calhoun County — $900,000 toward
renovation of this functioning historic facility in Pittsboro
. Capital Street Improvement Project, Jackson — $805,000 toward
revitalization efforts to improve economic development
. Public Facilities for Arts and Science, Jackson — $550,000 toward
renovation and rehabilitation of the city of Jackson’s public arts and
science facilities
. Chain Park Improvement Project, Hattiesburg — $500,000 toward
Phase II site development and park equipment
. Walter Anderson Arts Pavilion, Jackson County — $500,000 toward
Phase I construction and renovation
. Burns Belfry Community Heritage Center, Oxford — $400,000 toward
renovation of the historic church structure as a community heritage center
. Bolivar County Courthouse, Bolivar County — $350,000 toward
renovation of this functioning historic facility in Rosedale
. Greenville Wellness Project, Greenville — $300,000 toward
renovation and infrastructure enhancements for a youth wellness project
. Emmett Till Memorial Complex and Trail, Tallahatchie County —
$195,000 to Tallahatchie County for renovation of the Emmett Till Memorial
Complex in Charleston
HUD Neighborhood Initiative Program
. Civic Capacity Development Initiative, Mississippi State University
— $500,000 toward community planning and economic development services for
low and moderate-income citizens
Cochran Presser
9/17/9
Magnolia Tribune
