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HomeNewsArchivesDELEGATE SEEKS MORE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ROADS

DELEGATE SEEKS MORE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ROADS

April 3, 2003 – Delegate Donna M. Christensen took the territory's need for improved roads to a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday.
Christensen said in a release that she told the Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee that the Virgin Islands' tourism-based economy and quality of life are heavily dependent on transportation.
She asked that the committee restore the historic 1 percent allocation of National Highway Systems funds to the U.S. territories. The territories did not receive funding at this level the last time allocations were authorized.
Christensen also asked her colleagues to remove a $20 million cap on funds available to the Virgin Islands from the Emergency Relief Federal Aid Highway Program. She asked for $130 million over the next four to five years. Brian Modeste, an aide to the delegate, said the program is funded five or six years at a time.
Projects for which Christensen is seeking funds include completion of the Christiansted By-pass, $17 million; completion of the upgrade of the east/west corridor through Charlotte Amalie, $40 million; improvement of St. Croix's Route 78 Scenic Road, $9 million; improvements to Scott Free Road on St. Thomas, $7 million; and improvements to local roads throughout the territory, $61 million.

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