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Issue: 1034 Date: 6/17/2010
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RCGA Hosts Transportation Roundatable with U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan
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| U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan (D-Missouri) discusses regional infrastructure issues while Susan Stauder, RCGA's VP Infrastructure and Public Policy (pictured left), and Maggie Hales (right), Interim Director of East-West Gateway Council of Governments, look on. |
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A broad delegation of transportation and infrastructure leaders met for a roundtable discussion at the RCGA with U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan (D-Missouri) on June 3rd. Congressman Carnahan is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that oversees issues relating to highways, aviation, maritime transportation, emergency management, railroads and water resources. Congressman Carnahan serves alongside U.S. Representative Jerry Costello (D-Belleville), who chairs the Aviation Subcommittee.
The roundtable discussion focused on St. Louis?efforts to develop an overall transportation and infrastructure strategy aimed at enhancing the region𠏋 chances of securing federal funding. Rep. Carnahan told the group that in these difficult economic times an emphasis on new job creation and strategic regional investments were driving federal funding awards for infrastructure programs, called TIGER grants. To be successful in capturing funding in the second round of TIGER grants, he said that St. Louis needs to come together as a region as other areas of the county have done successfully.
Although Congress authorized Upper Mississippi Locks and Dams projects and environmental work in the current Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), sufficient funds were not appropriated. Rep. Carnahan pledged to continue to advocate for adequate funding in a new WRDA bill, and suggested that regional transportation leaders work together to propose a collaborative, industry-led series of projects important to St. Louis. He said St. Louis needs to be poised with a solid strategy for the future to build upon our traditional location advantages in rail, highway and aviation.
Rep. Carnahan also noted that much work remains to get a new transportation reauthorization bill passed, and with no growth in gas tax revenues, Congress will need to examine alternative funding for the Highway Trust Fund. To hear Congressman Carnahan𠏋 address on transportation issues facing our region, click here.
Susan Stauder, Vice President of Infrastructure and Public Policy for the RCGA, explained that developing a collaborative, regional transportation and infrastructure strategy will better position St. Louis as it competes with other regions. She said that the St. Louis metropolitan area must leverage its regional transportation assets, and highlighted recent collaborations among the region𠏋 port districts and river industry businesses as positive developments.
Maggie Hales, Interim Director of East-West Gateway Council of Governments, described the next TIGER grants from the federal government to fund highway, aviation, rail and port projects and how the projects will be evaluated. Hales said that East-West Gateway is pursuing partnerships and organizing key infrastructure stakeholders to develop strong grant applications for the St. Louis region.
During the roundtable discussion, business and labor leaders in construction, aviation, waterways and ports, transit and railways agreed that working collaboratively will give St. Louis the best opportunity to land federal grants for critical regional infrastructure projects. Additional meetings were proposed by the group to better prepare for the region𠏋 applications for TIGER grants and future infrastructure programs.
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| Business and industry leaders participate in the roundtable discussion in the RCGA's Regional Collaboration Center. |
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