Federal Highway Administrator Celebrates First Anniversary of TEA-21 At Maryland I-70/I-270 Ground-Breaking |
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Topics: Kenneth R. Wykle, Interstate Highway System
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Federal Highway Administration
June 14, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 14, 1999
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Tel.: 202-366-0660
FHWA 39-99
FREDERICK, Md. -- Commemorating the first anniversary since President Clinton signed the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), Federal Highway Administrator Kenneth R. Wykle today said that TEA-21 provided Maryland with $26.3 million in high-priority project funds to reconstruct the I-70/I-270/U.S. 340 interchange west of Frederick and that it is an ideal example of how well the law is working.
"The impact of TEA-21 on Maryland underscores President Clinton’s vision of transportation as more than concrete, asphalt and steel – it is the means by which Americans get to where they need to go: to jobs, to schools, to markets, to take advantage of all the opportunities our great nation offers," U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater said. "In an unprecedented way, TEA-21 is putting people first and helping to rebuild America, improve safety, protect the environment, spur the economy and expand opportunity."
Wykle joined Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, U.S. Sens. Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski, and U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett and state and local officials near Frederick, Md., at a ground-breaking ceremony for the project.
"This project will complete the missing links between I-70 and I-270, which in turn will help improve safety and mobility in this vital corridor," Wykle said. "We look forward to working together with Maryland and our other partners to make our nation’s transportation system as safe and efficient as possible."
To help advance the project, the Maryland State Highway Administration sought and received $6 million from the federal Right-of-Way Revolving fund, which allowed right-of-way acquisition to start earlier. That, in turn, will help the state complete the project sooner than under conventional financing methods.
TEA-21, which President Clinton signed on June 9, 1998, is a six-year surface transportation reauthorization that guarantees $198 billion to maintain and improve America’s surface transportation systems for the 21st century. TEA-21 continues core highway, bridge and transit programs, with balanced investment for highways, transit, rail, and intermodal projects. TEA-21 focuses on improving safety, rebuilding America, protecting the environment, creating opportunity and ensuring global competitiveness.