Secretary Slater Invites States to Apply For Highway Corridors and Borders Program Funds |
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Topics: Rodney E. Slater
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Federal Highway Administration
November 9, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 9, 1998
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Telephone: 202-366-0660
FHWA 53-98
BOSTON—U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today invited transportation officials to submit applications for up to $140 million in funds available to plan improvements or improve national highway corridors and to upgrade border facilities.
"President Clinton is committed to expand trade to maintain a strong and vibrant economy as America enters the 21st century," Secretary Slater said. "The borders and corridors program will provide funds to states to help manage commercial and other traffic as the result of increased trade and economic activity, particularly along our nation’s border."
The National Corridor Planning and Development Program and Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program was established under Sections 1118 and 1119 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), the landmark surface transportation law that President Clinton signed on June 9, 1998. The programs provide up to $140 million to states in fiscal 1999 and up to $140 million each year over the remaining four fiscal years (2000-2003) of TEA-21, for a total of $700 million.
The Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program aims to improve border infrastructure and transportation telecommunications to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of people and goods at or across the U.S.-Canada and the U.S.-Mexico borders. The National Corridor Planning and Development Program provides DOT authority to allocate dollars to states and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) for coordinated planning, design and construction of highway corridors.
Criteria under which the Border program project funding applications will be reviewed include reduction in travel time through a major international facility, potential for improvements in border crossing vehicle safety and cargo security, and the applicability of innovative techniques and technology to other border crossing facilities.
Under the Corridor program, the Department of Transportation has established criteria for states and MPOs to apply for discretionary funds for any of the 21 high priority corridors identified in the Intermodal Surface Transportation and Efficiency Act of 1991, the eight added in the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995, and the 14 added in TEA-21. The Secretary also can select other significant corridors based on an increase in commercial traffic since the passage of NAFTA, reduction in travel time through a major international gateway or affected port of entry, and other factors.
The full criteria will be published in the Federal Register, and applications must be submitted within 60 days after publication of criteria in the Federal Register. Additional information on the Corridors and Borders programs also is available on the department’s Web site, http://www.dot.gov.