Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Celebrates First Anniversary of TEA-21 At Ambassador Bridge Event |
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Topics: Gloria Jeff
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Federal Highway Administration
June 25, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 25, 1999
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Tel.: 202-366-0660
FHWA 42-99
DETROIT -- Commemorating the first anniversary since President Clinton signed the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Gloria Jeff today said that TEA-21 provides Michigan with nearly $11 million for two key projects and that the grants are an ideal example of how transportation can help create jobs and opportunity for people.
"The impact of TEA-21 on Michigan underscores President Clinton’s vision of transportation as more than concrete, asphalt and steel. Rather, 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."
TEA-21 provides Michigan $10.5 million in high priority project funding to help improve access from I-75 to the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, a key border crossing between the United States and Canada. In addition, $100,000 from the National Corridor Planning and Development and Coordinated Border Infrastructure programs awarded to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) will help coordinate cross-border metropolitan transportation planning.
Jeff joined Michigan state and local officials at a ceremony to highlight the grants and to salute the progress made in implementing TEA-21.
TEA-21, which President Clinton signed on June 9, 1998, is a six-year surface transportation reauthorization that guarantees about $200 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.