Federal Highway Administrator Celebrates Anniversary of TEA-21, Announces Grants For Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont |
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Topics: Kenneth R. Wykle
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Federal Highway Administration
July 21, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 21, 1999
Contact: Lori Irving
Tel.: 202-366-0660
FHWA 50-99
AUGUSTA, Maine—Federal Highway Administrator Kenneth R. Wykle today joined Maine Gov. Angus King and state and local officials at a ceremony celebrating grants totaling $1.5 million for the Northern New England Border Corridor and saluting the progress made in implementing the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).
"In an unprecedented way, TEA-21 is advancing President Clinton’s goals by putting people first and helping to rebuild America, improve safety, protect the environment, spur the economy and expand opportunity," U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater said. "It demonstrates what I’ve been saying all along: transportation is more than concrete, asphalt and steel. It ’s about investing in people and providing Americans the means to get to where they need to go: to jobs, to schools and to markets, to take advantage of all the opportunities our great nation offers."
Under the grants, Maine’s Department of Transportation will receive $1 million to develop a new, more efficient Calais/St. Stephen border crossing, which in the future will be capable of handling Intelligent Transportation Systems. The Calais/St. Stephen crossing is the busiest crossing between Maine and New Brunswick and the eighth busiest along the U.S.-Canadian border. New Hampshire will receive $150,000 for planning and associated work along Route 2, and Vermont will receive $350,000 for a preliminary study on improvements to Route 2 between Saint Johnsbury and the New Hampshire state line.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, an improved east-west highway would promote economic development and make it easier for Canadian tourists to visit northern New England.
"Because of its location, Maine serves as a critical link to our northern neighbor, Canada, which also is our country’s biggest trading partner," Wykle said. "We look forward to working together with Maine and our other partners to improve border crossings in Maine and across the country, which in turn will help make America’s transportation system safer, more efficient and more productive."
TEA-21, which President Clinton signed into law last June, 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.