Congress approves highway funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — North Idaho will benefit from the highway bill passed by Congress Friday.

H.R. 3 provides $286.5 billion in federal highway, transit and road safety funding nationwide through 2009, including an average allocation of $277 million per year for Idaho.

Projects specifically approved for North Idaho in the bill include:

? Improvements to widen U.S. 95, Mica to Worley, $27.4 million.

? Improvements to U.S. 95, Highway 1 to Canada border, $2.4 million.

? Improvements to Bridging the Valley, Kootenai County, $5 million.

? Widening U.S. 95, top of Lewiston Hill to Moscow, $1.6 million.

"The passage of this legislation is great news for anyone in Idaho who wants to operate a business, grow a farm or ranch, or take their family on vacation," said, Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.

In addition, the bill contains several important streamlining provisions to eliminate red-tape and put more authority in the hands of state policy makers. Among the many streamlining provisions are the following:

? Places deadlines on decision by other federal agencies that could hold up projects

? Puts a 180-day limit on filing suits over a project with proper approval

? Creates a pilot program for states to take over the environmental approval process

"The streamlining provisions in this conference report will empower states to play a bigger role in moving transportation projects from planning to creation of more jobs and safer highways," said Rep. Butch Otter, R-Idaho. "That's a welcome change."