Legislation will produce more than 40,000 jobs at no cost

June 6, 2008

Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today commended the President for signing the highway corrections bill, which under Reid’s leadership brings nearly $55 million in transportation funding to Nevada.
 
Technical corrections to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), signed into law in 2005, will now free up approximately $1 billion in projects which, in turn, produce more than 40,000 jobs at no additional cost.

Projects throughout Nevada receiving funding include:

• $45 million for Maglev. The money will help fund an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for this rail system that will safely and efficiently move people between southern California and Las Vegas.
• $4-6 million annually for the Lake Tahoe Metro Planning Organization for the restoration and protection of the Lake Tahoe Basin
• $2 million for the Southern Regional Transportation Commission
• $2 million for the Ely railroad (this effort was led by Sen. John Ensign)

“I’m pleased President Bush signed this bill into law,” Reid said.  “These important projects will now be able to move forward with the funding they need.  With Nevada’s growing population, this money will help meet the ever-growing transportation needs of communities throughout our state.”

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