News Release

Washington, DC –Passengers, pilots, and the Idaho National Guard will enjoy improved services at the Boise Air Terminal and Gowen Field as $7.7 million in funding included in the Fiscal Year 2006 Transportation-Treasury-HUD Appropriations bill will go toward the construction of a new air traffic control tower, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said today.

“The new tower will provide the much-needed resources required to ensure safety, increased services and accessibility for everyone who flies in and out of the Boise area,” Crapo said. “This tower complements other transit projects included in this package. Together the projects will help Idaho’s roadways catch up with growth in urban areas while providing reliable transportation systems for rural areas. Additionally, the funding included in this bill for highway message signs will help increase the safety and communications involved with Idaho’s highway systems. These additions to Idaho’s transportation system will help address the needs of all Idahoans.”

The Idaho Transportation Department was also awarded $100,000 to install message signs throughout the state to facilitate Amber Alerts and hazardous driving conditions warnings. Additionally, the Idaho Transit Coalition was awarded $2.9 million to address the rising demand on public transportation. That funding will be spread throughout high-transportation usage areas to purchase items such as buses, communications equipment, transit facilities, and services.

Other projects included in the Transportation Appropriations bill are:

• US-95 Worley North (Coeur d’Alene) - $2 million

• Salmon Falls Creek Bridge (Twin Falls) - $200,000

• College of Southern Idaho Student Safety Initiative (Twin Falls) - $750,000

• South Valley Connector Project (Pocatello) - $2 million

• City of Rocks Backcountry Byway (Burley/Twin Falls) - $3 million

• Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway from Banks to Lowman (Boise) - $1 million